12/31/2007
Hermana Pratt
Misión Chile Osorno
Junio 2007 – Enero 2008
My entire life I have heard people say that the mission was the best and hardest two years of their life. I never really understood that statement until now. Now, I can testify of the truthfulness of that statement.
When I decided to go on a mission, I felt as if my reasons to go were a bit selfish. I had two main reasons to go on the mission. One, I had prayed and fasted a lot to know if it was a step I had to take and I felt so strongly that if I didn’t go I would regret it for the rest of my life, wondering who needed me and I didn’t help, always thinking that I had to do something and never did it. The other reason was because I really wanted to learn how to be charitable, to have the pure love of Christ, to really love my brothers and sisters here on the earth and desire their salvation as much and more than my own. At first I was a little embarrassed to admit that to my Stake President because I felt like they were both for me. But to my surprise he assured me that they were righteous desires. But never did I really ever expect what I have experienced in these 18 months here in Chile, the most wonderful and most difficult experiences of my life.
A scripture in Alma has really sums up what I have experienced and felt on the mission. Alma 36:20-21
“Y ¡oh qué gozo, y qué luz tan maravillosa fue la que vi! Sí, mi alma se llenó do un gozo tan profundo como lo había sido mi dolor. Sí, hijo, mío, te digo que no podía haber cosa tan intensa ni tan amarga como mis dolores. Sí, hijo mío, y también te digo que por otra parte no puede haber cosa tan intensa y dulce como lo fue mi gozo.¨
I have come to feel as Alma did as I have shared the Gospel with my brothers and sisters here in Chile.
In my first area, I grew to love a family as if it were my own. As we shared with this family and taught them the truthfulness of the Gospel and how they could have an eternal family brought me a joy I had never experienced. I felt a love for this family and a desire to see them sealed as a family for all eternity. I desired that more than I did for myself. It was a wonderful feeling that quickly turned around as the family rejected the truthfulness of the message that they knew was true. I had truly never felt a pain in my heart like I felt that day as I could see that some of Our Heavenly Father’s children had rejected His plan of happiness, the only way to get back to Him. But in this moment, I realized the change that was happening within me, how God was working in my life and refining me. It is an experience I will never forget, the joy and the pain that comes as you love someone else and give them all you can so that they can be happy in this life and in the next. I continue to pray that these people that have rejected this message will one day open and bland their hearts so that they will be able to be with our Heavenly Father once again.
The mission has definitely been a growing experience for me; I have grown leaps and bonds that a person outside looking in wouldn’t see. I have gone through things on the mission that I would never wish for another person. I reached moments that I thought it wasn’t possible that I could get through it, at times they were physical trials and others mental and emotional trials. It has been a time where I have never been so stressed, concerned, and pressured in my life like I have been on the mission. Times where I have never felt so down, depressed, alone, without hope, and without the power to go on. There are things that I don’t understand why I had to go through or why it happened to me.
Thanks to these trials, I have never felt God’s love as strong as I found the comfort, answers, help, support, and everything I need in the scriptures. I had never pleaded so sincerely, from my heart, and powerfully in my prayers before like I have on the mission. I have never seen God answer my prayers as quickly as I have had to use all of my faith and all of my being to get through the trials and help the Chileans. The scriptures have come alive and have been amazing how God leads me to exactly what I need right when I need it. I have never fasted with such faith and fervency. I have never been an instrument in God’s hands like I have been on the mission. I have never seen so many miracles, God’s love for every one of His children, His grace and mercy like I have in the last 18 months. And I have never understood the extent and the intensity of Christ’s Atonement, the pain and suffering that Christ went through for me and all of the humanity. I can never thank my Heavenly Father enough for every one of those experiences. I know that after the trail of your faith come the blessings from heaven, I have seen them and have received them. God has given me such a wonderful blessing being able to be here and serve Him as I serve my brothers and sisters here. I know that everything that has happened to me will be helpful in the future, begin able to help others through their trials and get through some of my own.
On the mission not only have I been able to understand a little more about what Christ has done for me and what he suffered for me, but I have been able to taste what the eternal happiness we will have when we arrive in our Heavenly Father’s presence. I have truly tasted that as I have found people that were waiting for me. I have found my best friends from the preexistence and have been able to be there for them and lead them to the correct path. I now understand why I had felt what I felt when I prayed about going on the mission, that if I didn’t go I would regret it forever. Because there were people here who were waiting for me, especially a lost sister that had been prepared when over 7 years ago had had a dream of when we said goodbye in the preexistence and how I had promised to find her here on the earth and bring her back to the truth. It is a dream come true, something I had only ever heard about but never thought I would live it. As I have watched her and her family change, come into the church once again, and see the happiness and joy that has come into their life has brought me the greatest happiness I have ever felt. It has helped me see what we are fighting for every day; understand what the blessings will be in the end. There has been nothing else sweeter or greater than being able to help these people return to our Heavenly Father. I can understand a little better the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 18: 13, 15…
¡Y cuán grande es su gozo por el alma que se arrepiente! Y me traéis aun cuando fuere una sola alma, ¡cuán grande será vuestro gozo con ella en el reino de mi Padre!
I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father for truly helping me to reach the two goals that I had before my mission. I know that this is where I had to serve my mission; I know that Gordon B. Hinckley is a prophet of God that receives revelation for all of us. I know that this is the true church because if it wasn’t and if the President Hinckley was not a true prophet, I would have never been here nor found the people that I was sent to find by our Heavenly Father. I understand now why things happened in my life before the mission, how the Lord prepared the way for me to go on the mission. I am so very thankful for the promptings of the Spirit and because I was able to follow them and do what the Lord had prepared for me from before this life. I know that none of this has been a coincidence but we have such a loving Heavenly Father that prepares the way for us continually.
He has also touched my heart in many ways unimaginable. He has changed my heart and has taught my how to love. I feel like He has set me on my path to be able to really be able to have charity. I have never loved so many people so deeply like I have here on the mission. I will leave the majority of my best friends here in Chile. They are a wonderful and loving people. They have taught me and given me much more than I have done for them. God has given me the greatest blessings I could have ever asked for, the true happiness that comes as I have learned to love these people with all of my heart, might, mind, and soul. Many times I wonder why I have received so many blessings I really don’t deserve. But, I thank God everyday for giving me the wonderful family I have that has taught me the Gospel and now being able to share the happiness and joy I have in my life with other people. There is no greater blessing nor happiness than forgetting about yourself, losing yourself in the work of the Lord, and finding yourself by helping and serving other people.
I have grown to love my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ much more and have felt the love that they have for me and for everyone else. I know they live. I know only through Christ we can be saved and be happy now and forever. I know God guides and protects us in every step of the way. I know He loves us so much that He sent His only begotten son to take upon our sins. I know He loves us so much that He has restored His church on the earth so that we can have the sacred ordinances of salvation we need to we can return to Him. I know Joseph Smith restored Christ’s church and that today we have Christ’s true church, the true path that leads us straight to our loving Heavenly Father. I know the Book of Mormon is true, I have found all the answers and comfort that I have needed in this magnificent book. I know that God loves us, after everything I have seen and been through, how can I not know and feel the truthfulness of it all. I thank my Heavenly Father for every one of these experiences, good and bad; I wouldn’t change it for the world.
Monday, December 31, 2007
I have learned so much
12/31/2007
Hi, i am here, i am glad that Alejandra emailed you to tell you i wasn’t going to write right away. i have p-das Mondays now but next Monday is my last p-day on the mission, so that is it and we will be seeing each other. i am in rahue alto, which is just another part of osorno, i am with hna morphis and hna mcrbide, we all know i never wanted to be in a threesome but such is life. my companion went home on Christmas, Christmas day i dropped her off and she went and took the plane, merry Christmas, it was an interesting Christmas. i have lots to tell but we can wait until i get home.
Okay, i am not going to write too much today. We have lots to do. But here I am, with the gringas. It is amazing how all of my trails have come at the end of my mission and they have come full force, wow, they have been some of the most difficult things ever. I have officially been out for over 18 months!! Wow!! Crazy.
I feel like on the mission I have become a psychologist with all of the counseling and things I have had to do with my companions, trying to get them to feel good about themselves, get lots in the mission, it all. It has been a very interesting experience all of it to say the least. But I feel like I really have learned and developed many important skills for the life ahead. I have learned to go by the spirit a lot, say things and not know where they came out of. To be able to really learn to love and care for people. To really love the gospel and share it. I love getting to know people now, and share what I love, make them happy.
Mom, should I keep my sheets or leave them here? I don’t know how much weight I will be able to carry back home, I think it is not very much, less than when I got here.
It is weird being the companion that speaks Spanish best, one guy asked me to talk because he only understood me. It is funny. I love speaking Spanish, I try to say I am Chilean but no one believes me. I tell them god got confused and sent me to the states and not to Chile. It is funny.
Tomorrow, with the ward we are going on a trip to the beach for new years, that will be way fun. We have got lots to do in these two weeks we have left. Lots on the mind. It is hard getting used to my new sector knowing I am finishing soon, I feel like it isn’t´ my sector. Pres told me to have more faith, there is a reason why I am there, I just have to do the best and most I can in these two weeks!
Happy new year.
Happy birthday to Ethan.
I don’t know how many presents I am brining home, if any for the weight, just to let you all know now.!
See you next week, I have to write a letter to the pres about the mission, the last letter.
Hi, i am here, i am glad that Alejandra emailed you to tell you i wasn’t going to write right away. i have p-das Mondays now but next Monday is my last p-day on the mission, so that is it and we will be seeing each other. i am in rahue alto, which is just another part of osorno, i am with hna morphis and hna mcrbide, we all know i never wanted to be in a threesome but such is life. my companion went home on Christmas, Christmas day i dropped her off and she went and took the plane, merry Christmas, it was an interesting Christmas. i have lots to tell but we can wait until i get home.
Okay, i am not going to write too much today. We have lots to do. But here I am, with the gringas. It is amazing how all of my trails have come at the end of my mission and they have come full force, wow, they have been some of the most difficult things ever. I have officially been out for over 18 months!! Wow!! Crazy.
I feel like on the mission I have become a psychologist with all of the counseling and things I have had to do with my companions, trying to get them to feel good about themselves, get lots in the mission, it all. It has been a very interesting experience all of it to say the least. But I feel like I really have learned and developed many important skills for the life ahead. I have learned to go by the spirit a lot, say things and not know where they came out of. To be able to really learn to love and care for people. To really love the gospel and share it. I love getting to know people now, and share what I love, make them happy.
Mom, should I keep my sheets or leave them here? I don’t know how much weight I will be able to carry back home, I think it is not very much, less than when I got here.
It is weird being the companion that speaks Spanish best, one guy asked me to talk because he only understood me. It is funny. I love speaking Spanish, I try to say I am Chilean but no one believes me. I tell them god got confused and sent me to the states and not to Chile. It is funny.
Tomorrow, with the ward we are going on a trip to the beach for new years, that will be way fun. We have got lots to do in these two weeks we have left. Lots on the mind. It is hard getting used to my new sector knowing I am finishing soon, I feel like it isn’t´ my sector. Pres told me to have more faith, there is a reason why I am there, I just have to do the best and most I can in these two weeks!
Happy new year.
Happy birthday to Ethan.
I don’t know how many presents I am brining home, if any for the weight, just to let you all know now.!
See you next week, I have to write a letter to the pres about the mission, the last letter.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Toughest Time EVER!
12/22/2007
I won’t write too much today nor do am i in the mood to. this week has been one of the hardest weeks ever. i am exhausted, haven’t slept for two or three weeks. and i have been on the biggest emotional roller coaster ever. I probably got closer to depression this week than ever, i probably went started going into and, realized and pulled myself out. my companion is paying a toll on me. it is so hard. i can tell you more later but thisprobably sums it up...she is going home next week, whenever they can find her a plane ticket.
i am sure you understand...al this happening to me my last 3 -4 weeks of the mission. it’s tough, like i have told the president and hna faulkner, i am not superwoman, i get worn down too.
So yeah, that is all i am going to write this week. Merry Christmas to everyone, I hope everyone ahs a great Christmas. It has finally gotten hot here, I have gotten sun burnt for like three or four days because the son is soooooooooooooooooo strong here. So strong. We sang in the plaza last night Christmas carols and today too. It is weird Christmas in the summer time. So that is me. My companion is going home this week and they will probably send me to a different sector, in a threesome with hna morphis and her companion and they will probably close my sector, which makes me sad, I want to talk to the pres and try to get him not to close it. We will see. I would make me sad to see it closed again, the ward without missionaries again. That is me. Talk to you all soon.
Hna pratt
I won’t write too much today nor do am i in the mood to. this week has been one of the hardest weeks ever. i am exhausted, haven’t slept for two or three weeks. and i have been on the biggest emotional roller coaster ever. I probably got closer to depression this week than ever, i probably went started going into and, realized and pulled myself out. my companion is paying a toll on me. it is so hard. i can tell you more later but thisprobably sums it up...she is going home next week, whenever they can find her a plane ticket.
i am sure you understand...al this happening to me my last 3 -4 weeks of the mission. it’s tough, like i have told the president and hna faulkner, i am not superwoman, i get worn down too.
So yeah, that is all i am going to write this week. Merry Christmas to everyone, I hope everyone ahs a great Christmas. It has finally gotten hot here, I have gotten sun burnt for like three or four days because the son is soooooooooooooooooo strong here. So strong. We sang in the plaza last night Christmas carols and today too. It is weird Christmas in the summer time. So that is me. My companion is going home this week and they will probably send me to a different sector, in a threesome with hna morphis and her companion and they will probably close my sector, which makes me sad, I want to talk to the pres and try to get him not to close it. We will see. I would make me sad to see it closed again, the ward without missionaries again. That is me. Talk to you all soon.
Hna pratt
Saturday, December 15, 2007
My Companion Has Chicken Pox
12/15/2007
Hola to all at home. I hope everything has gone great at home. I am going to keep it short today, I am not full of a whole lot of energy or really want to talk much. It has been a very very very difficult week this week, we have had our ups and downs and some more downs. My companion last week, on Sunday found out she had chicken pocks….longggggggggggg story. Anyway, she can’t go out anywhere. So it has been reallllllllllllllyy hard to work. I have worked my tail off trying to make it so that I can go out and work. What are the odds of having a comp with chicken pocks your last cambio, at the end of your mission. It has helped me to see that I really love to teach and visit the people. I realized how much I love to talk to them, get to know them, and be able to help them. It is so awesome. I have had some very good experiences as I have left with some of the members here in osorno. They are special people and have strong testimonies. We found an elderly lady that is just great, we have an appt today but we will have to see how it goes, if I can find someone to stay with my companion. I really love the mission and have learned so much.
Oh, lael, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, I don’t remember how old you are now, like 40 I think!! I am not going to send you anything this year because you won´t open it for another 9 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you have a great birthday, I will be thinking about you! Party it up…with your two kids!! Love ya!
So we had our conference yesterday of the zones around here. It was really really good, It was really spiritual. It was great. So when someone is going home they make you give your last testimony in the conference. So hna morphis, two elders, and I gave our last testimonies. It was so weird. It doesn’t really seem like it, time as gone by soooo fast. It is incredible. Time flies. We still feel like we are the new ones on the mission, it is crazy. It was weird that I am one of the people who has been on the mission for the most amount of time. But it has been a good 18 months so far. They have been some of the best and worst times of my life and I am grateful for every single one of them. There are things that I don’t know why or understand why I had to go through them but one day I will understand. But every minute, good or bad has helped me draw closer to my savior and heavenly father. And that is what has been so sweet and rich about the mission. No where else in my life would I have been able to gain the testimony, love, knowledge, and life experiences like I have here. What a blessing the lord gave me to call me on a mission. I would reiterate pres papa´s words anyway, I wish that all my kids and grandkids, girls or boys, can go on a mission.
My comp has been very very very depressed and is not going well. Every day I have to talk her into staying on the mission and not going home. I am not sleeping, I am stressed and I am at my wit ends. I thought things were find and bammmmmmm. She says she will try and stay but every day we go through the same thing. The morning she is fine, nighttime no, morning bad, evening no. it has gotten to the point where I don’t want to go home anymore, I don’t know what I am going to face. But that is the story. I am plugging along, the good news is that I am not trunky and not thinking about home at alllllllllllllllllllllllllll. Keep us in your prayers please.
Next week we as missionaries are singing in the plaza, Christmas songs. It will be fun. I have enjoyed being with hna morphis this little time. She is a great missionary.
Okay, that is me for the week. I will write next Saturday and we will talk next Sunday.
Send my love to all. Hope everyone has a great week!
Love, hna pratt
Hola to all at home. I hope everything has gone great at home. I am going to keep it short today, I am not full of a whole lot of energy or really want to talk much. It has been a very very very difficult week this week, we have had our ups and downs and some more downs. My companion last week, on Sunday found out she had chicken pocks….longggggggggggg story. Anyway, she can’t go out anywhere. So it has been reallllllllllllllyy hard to work. I have worked my tail off trying to make it so that I can go out and work. What are the odds of having a comp with chicken pocks your last cambio, at the end of your mission. It has helped me to see that I really love to teach and visit the people. I realized how much I love to talk to them, get to know them, and be able to help them. It is so awesome. I have had some very good experiences as I have left with some of the members here in osorno. They are special people and have strong testimonies. We found an elderly lady that is just great, we have an appt today but we will have to see how it goes, if I can find someone to stay with my companion. I really love the mission and have learned so much.
Oh, lael, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, I don’t remember how old you are now, like 40 I think!! I am not going to send you anything this year because you won´t open it for another 9 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you have a great birthday, I will be thinking about you! Party it up…with your two kids!! Love ya!
So we had our conference yesterday of the zones around here. It was really really good, It was really spiritual. It was great. So when someone is going home they make you give your last testimony in the conference. So hna morphis, two elders, and I gave our last testimonies. It was so weird. It doesn’t really seem like it, time as gone by soooo fast. It is incredible. Time flies. We still feel like we are the new ones on the mission, it is crazy. It was weird that I am one of the people who has been on the mission for the most amount of time. But it has been a good 18 months so far. They have been some of the best and worst times of my life and I am grateful for every single one of them. There are things that I don’t know why or understand why I had to go through them but one day I will understand. But every minute, good or bad has helped me draw closer to my savior and heavenly father. And that is what has been so sweet and rich about the mission. No where else in my life would I have been able to gain the testimony, love, knowledge, and life experiences like I have here. What a blessing the lord gave me to call me on a mission. I would reiterate pres papa´s words anyway, I wish that all my kids and grandkids, girls or boys, can go on a mission.
My comp has been very very very depressed and is not going well. Every day I have to talk her into staying on the mission and not going home. I am not sleeping, I am stressed and I am at my wit ends. I thought things were find and bammmmmmm. She says she will try and stay but every day we go through the same thing. The morning she is fine, nighttime no, morning bad, evening no. it has gotten to the point where I don’t want to go home anymore, I don’t know what I am going to face. But that is the story. I am plugging along, the good news is that I am not trunky and not thinking about home at alllllllllllllllllllllllllll. Keep us in your prayers please.
Next week we as missionaries are singing in the plaza, Christmas songs. It will be fun. I have enjoyed being with hna morphis this little time. She is a great missionary.
Okay, that is me for the week. I will write next Saturday and we will talk next Sunday.
Send my love to all. Hope everyone has a great week!
Love, hna pratt
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Chile is the Best
Her camera cord seems to be missing as we havent had any pictures forever!!
12/08/2007
Well, hello. We have had an interesting week and we are absolutely exhausted. Such is life. But a couple of questions first as well...
Okay, i had other questions but i don’t remember now.
I was going to warn you, don’t be scared when you get here, the people are veryyyyyyyyyyyyy touchy feely. They hug a lot and give lots of kisses on the cheeks. They don’t have personal space like we do. And mom, for example, it would be a privilege really for us to be there with Alejandra. Their culture is more like that, that you stay with people, that you are close. They aren’t really a people of privacy or personal space. Like they would be more than happy to have you there. For example, i would love to stay there with her. If you guys don’t stay with her i probably still will. But i know that you might be uncomfortable there in her home but it is a big house and there is a bedroom downstairs that has it’s own bathroom and everything, so you would have your own personal space. And they speak English. But i know you might be uncomfortable, but for what i want to do, i want to be with her. That is my vote. But do what you feel is best but i know it will be just fine.
With the stuffing you guys have to remember that i haven’t eaten American food in a year and a half, any American food now tastes like the best food ever.
i don’t´ know anything about calling home, they will probably tell us the week before. sorry, no clue, give me another week. i always tell you when i know.
it is such a blessing that we have prophets today. it is amazing how many people are lost and confused on what to do, who to believe, what to think because there are so many churches and people saying things that contradict. i feel so blessed to have prophets today because we know exactlyyyyyyy what god wants from us. we are anything but confused, we have truth adn light and guidance and these other people have confusion, darkness, and doubts. but what a marvelous life we can lead if we follow gods trueeeeee commandments that we learn through his prophets. it is amazing how much it really changes our lives and in the end, our eternal lives.
sorry, i stink at speaking about the gospel in ingles.
okay, mom, Alejandra says just stay with them. mom, she is amazing! she says that when she comes to the states she is going to stay with us in our house!!! :) why pay for a hotel when she has us and we have her! but really mom, don’t worry about it, she is awesome, and you know that i am not just friends with anyone and i wouldn’t just to whatever. really, she is one of my best friends. she is awesome, her husband, they are great. we will be fine. but write her more so you can be friends and be okay with staying with them, more comfortable. call her and get to know her more, i told her you are nervous about it all. but you will be fine. thank you for everythinhgggggggggggggggggggggg.
Well, with me there has been some interesting things that have happened. Cambios came and went and we both stayed here. I am going to end my mission here in osorno. There are two sisters who got here to osorno in another sector to open a new sector and they are looking for a house, they don’t have one. They are in the same shoes we were. But they are living with us. Our house is sooooooooooooooo small. Let’s say that in the old house, where Leanne and justin are, our house maybeeeeeeeeeeeee is the size of my two bedrooms and the bathroom. Imagine four people in that, with suit cases and all, and that is the bathroom, two bedrooms, kitchen, and everythingggggggggggggg. We are a little tight squeezed. And of all the hermanas, you would never believe you it is, they are two gringas, hermana morphis and her companion. After only seeing each other once our entire mission we are ending living together until they find a house, they found one and will probably move on Monday, it really is a tight tight tight squeeze. But it is just fine.
So more than anything that is my story. We have just been trying hard to work hard. My family doesn’t help much since they have gotten so trunky. (Means we miss her and want her home)All the missionaries here in osrono are in a choir and we are going to sing Christmas songs in the plaza for Christmas. That will be fun, hopefully we sound good in the end. We are not very many but such is life.
We have had a fun week this week. My comp has been overly excited to stay with me natoher cambio. I was secretly praying i would be with hna monsalve again but she is stilllllllllllll in punta arenas. Sometimes it is hard to accept what the lord has in store for us.
12/08/2007
Well, hello. We have had an interesting week and we are absolutely exhausted. Such is life. But a couple of questions first as well...
Okay, i had other questions but i don’t remember now.
I was going to warn you, don’t be scared when you get here, the people are veryyyyyyyyyyyyy touchy feely. They hug a lot and give lots of kisses on the cheeks. They don’t have personal space like we do. And mom, for example, it would be a privilege really for us to be there with Alejandra. Their culture is more like that, that you stay with people, that you are close. They aren’t really a people of privacy or personal space. Like they would be more than happy to have you there. For example, i would love to stay there with her. If you guys don’t stay with her i probably still will. But i know that you might be uncomfortable there in her home but it is a big house and there is a bedroom downstairs that has it’s own bathroom and everything, so you would have your own personal space. And they speak English. But i know you might be uncomfortable, but for what i want to do, i want to be with her. That is my vote. But do what you feel is best but i know it will be just fine.
With the stuffing you guys have to remember that i haven’t eaten American food in a year and a half, any American food now tastes like the best food ever.
i don’t´ know anything about calling home, they will probably tell us the week before. sorry, no clue, give me another week. i always tell you when i know.
it is such a blessing that we have prophets today. it is amazing how many people are lost and confused on what to do, who to believe, what to think because there are so many churches and people saying things that contradict. i feel so blessed to have prophets today because we know exactlyyyyyyy what god wants from us. we are anything but confused, we have truth adn light and guidance and these other people have confusion, darkness, and doubts. but what a marvelous life we can lead if we follow gods trueeeeee commandments that we learn through his prophets. it is amazing how much it really changes our lives and in the end, our eternal lives.
sorry, i stink at speaking about the gospel in ingles.
okay, mom, Alejandra says just stay with them. mom, she is amazing! she says that when she comes to the states she is going to stay with us in our house!!! :) why pay for a hotel when she has us and we have her! but really mom, don’t worry about it, she is awesome, and you know that i am not just friends with anyone and i wouldn’t just to whatever. really, she is one of my best friends. she is awesome, her husband, they are great. we will be fine. but write her more so you can be friends and be okay with staying with them, more comfortable. call her and get to know her more, i told her you are nervous about it all. but you will be fine. thank you for everythinhgggggggggggggggggggggg.
Well, with me there has been some interesting things that have happened. Cambios came and went and we both stayed here. I am going to end my mission here in osorno. There are two sisters who got here to osorno in another sector to open a new sector and they are looking for a house, they don’t have one. They are in the same shoes we were. But they are living with us. Our house is sooooooooooooooo small. Let’s say that in the old house, where Leanne and justin are, our house maybeeeeeeeeeeeee is the size of my two bedrooms and the bathroom. Imagine four people in that, with suit cases and all, and that is the bathroom, two bedrooms, kitchen, and everythingggggggggggggg. We are a little tight squeezed. And of all the hermanas, you would never believe you it is, they are two gringas, hermana morphis and her companion. After only seeing each other once our entire mission we are ending living together until they find a house, they found one and will probably move on Monday, it really is a tight tight tight squeeze. But it is just fine.
So more than anything that is my story. We have just been trying hard to work hard. My family doesn’t help much since they have gotten so trunky. (Means we miss her and want her home)All the missionaries here in osrono are in a choir and we are going to sing Christmas songs in the plaza for Christmas. That will be fun, hopefully we sound good in the end. We are not very many but such is life.
We have had a fun week this week. My comp has been overly excited to stay with me natoher cambio. I was secretly praying i would be with hna monsalve again but she is stilllllllllllll in punta arenas. Sometimes it is hard to accept what the lord has in store for us.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Notes To Dad
12/01/2007
I know dad, it is all they talk about is how much time i have left and how short it is, everybody asks, strangers even ask more than they used to and everybody always wants to talk about it. it is a pain It is funny though. I am doing well, it is amazing to look back at the mission and see all that has happened, what has happened and what i have learned. i wouldn’t give up this year and a half for the world. it was the best decision i ever made, the best thing i have ever done. it is one of the greatest blessing i have had in my life. i am so blessed in so many things.
you can’t tell anyone but i am about ready to be home. i loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Chile. i loveeeeeeeeeeee the people here, i love the mission, i love everything. i have not had one single problem on the mission being away from home, missing home, missing the family, nothing, which is a blessing. but i am ready too. it will be perfect in January, i know it is the perfect date for me to go home, not any more nor any less.
god knows and has everything planned out
dad, i was going to tell you something funny. for some oddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd reason, i don’t know why. for the first time in my missino i missed something from home and it was the weirdesttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt thing. for some reason, all of a sudden i missed one of teh dad plastering smothering hugs that you give.
maybe because it makes me laugh, get embarrassed and shake my head at how weird you are sometimes! it made me laughed, i told my comp and we laughed about it for awhile. it was funny.
a
alright, i am out of here. i hope you do well on your test. tell all from the church hi and the family too. tell allie i will hang out with her, no need to worry.
i am down with that, it really is alllllllll about the people, they are my family here. on the plane we will have lots of time, you will have to tell more stories about your mission. and mom shouldn’t worry, I know the loops, i have lived here for so long there are no worries, i know how to get around, what is dangerous and what isn’t, it will be great. we will eat a lotttttttttttttttttttttt, so be ready. and things you might not like, but you know, you just eat it anyway, why do you think i have gotten so fat! :) okay peace out. love ya dad
I know dad, it is all they talk about is how much time i have left and how short it is, everybody asks, strangers even ask more than they used to and everybody always wants to talk about it. it is a pain It is funny though. I am doing well, it is amazing to look back at the mission and see all that has happened, what has happened and what i have learned. i wouldn’t give up this year and a half for the world. it was the best decision i ever made, the best thing i have ever done. it is one of the greatest blessing i have had in my life. i am so blessed in so many things.
you can’t tell anyone but i am about ready to be home. i loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Chile. i loveeeeeeeeeeee the people here, i love the mission, i love everything. i have not had one single problem on the mission being away from home, missing home, missing the family, nothing, which is a blessing. but i am ready too. it will be perfect in January, i know it is the perfect date for me to go home, not any more nor any less.
god knows and has everything planned out
dad, i was going to tell you something funny. for some oddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd reason, i don’t know why. for the first time in my missino i missed something from home and it was the weirdesttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt thing. for some reason, all of a sudden i missed one of teh dad plastering smothering hugs that you give.
maybe because it makes me laugh, get embarrassed and shake my head at how weird you are sometimes! it made me laughed, i told my comp and we laughed about it for awhile. it was funny.
a
alright, i am out of here. i hope you do well on your test. tell all from the church hi and the family too. tell allie i will hang out with her, no need to worry.
i am down with that, it really is alllllllll about the people, they are my family here. on the plane we will have lots of time, you will have to tell more stories about your mission. and mom shouldn’t worry, I know the loops, i have lived here for so long there are no worries, i know how to get around, what is dangerous and what isn’t, it will be great. we will eat a lotttttttttttttttttttttt, so be ready. and things you might not like, but you know, you just eat it anyway, why do you think i have gotten so fat! :) okay peace out. love ya dad
Awesome Turnout for our Activity
12/01/2007
Well, mom that is quite the little thing with the cat. You went a little overboard, I will read over it to see what really happened I haven’t read your letter yet. (Our cat Nara has started scratching on the furniture and won't stop...so I heard about these nail caps that are plastic that cover the nails and when they scratch they won't ruin the furniture. So sent Jamie a picture of her with her red nails on. This way she didn't have to be declawed)
So, it looks like things have been going good for you guys. That is great the granny is home now i hope she does well. I have come to understand a lot more about the gospel and the love god has for us as granny has been going through all of this. I have talked to many people who have helped me a lot to understand that god really is so merciful and loves us so much but it is us that are so hard headed and hard on ourselves. It is amazing the love he has for us.
Okay, with the trip. I am sorry that it has been such a head ache, i wish i could have been more help because i actually know Spanish. Anyway, i don’t remember what i am supposed to answer. Oh yeah, if we want to stay in pto montt. Really, pto montt they say is a lot dangerous and i don’t know how much there really is. My mamita in frutillar said that we could go stay with her for free, she has like a bed and breakfast and she would hold a spot for us if we tell her ahead of time. But because you don’t know Spanish i don’t know how down you would be for that. My vote would probably be to stay in pto varas. I want to see alejandra as much as i can. I would say there. You can ask her where to stay, or just drop her the line and tell her we are going to stay with her! JJJJJ i know she wouldn´t mind. But i know you gusy aren’t all the comfortable staying with other people, and less when you don’t speak the same language as everyone else! JJJJ but they know English, don’t worry, and speak it well. I hope you guys are practicing your spanish, learning a few things. Don’t worry, i know enough Spanish to get around. You guys are really going out of yoru box, thanks. Chile is great but remember that it is a lot poorer than the states, don’t come with the same expectations fro example with hotels and such. But i love Chile really. Do you want me to ask Alejandra if we can stay with her.
So we organized our own activity this week, our mission leader is not active so we are working by ourselves, but this is nothing new. It is always like that, amazing how that is. We had a ward family home evening. Like 25 people got there, it was a greatttttttttt turn out and the best was 6 investigators’! It was awesome. We are improving last week there were 31 or 34 people at church, there were sooooooooooooooo many. It was the most we have had in a long time. We were so pumped. We are working really hard. The members are really starting to trust us and it is going great with them. It is just hard to get people to go to church, everybody wants blessing but nobody wants to do anything for them. So it was a great turn out our ward activity.
I had an interesting experience. I don’t know if i told you, i had a dream about one of the hermanas here in our sector that doesn’t go to church, that is living with her boyfriend and has been to the temple. Long story. But this dream impacted me sooooooooo much, for what i felt, i felt so much painnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn for her not being active and the need for her to go back to chruch. We had a lesson with them that was wonderful. I told her a little about the dream and we were talking about how we were prepared to come to this life before, in the pre-existence and how we were taught the plan of salvation and knew what was coming and we promised to live the gospel and go back to live with god again. I know she was one of the valiant’s that fought hand in hand with Christ and that is why she is hear. I told her we don’t´ remember the other life, some people do, but i don’t but i have feelings or experiences that make me remember what i felt before, who were my closest friends before this life and that i know this is the true church and the prophet is called of god because he sent em here where i have found some of my best friends and because i had promised them i would come back and that the lord as put me with my Chileans again. And as I was saying all of this she started crying and pointing to herself, admitting that we knew each other before and that i was sent there to find her and bring her back. It was such a sweet moment. I wish i could describe the things that i felt but it was something that just pierced my soul and my heart. A confirming testimony that this is the lords work and there is no other, this is the true gospel and no other because if it wasn’t i wouldn’t be here and be helping these people and i wouldn’t be feeling these things that i feel now, knowing that they were my best friends before this life. They are such sacred experiences that i will forever treasure. I wish everyone could just feel and see and experience the things that i have experienced in this time on the mission. The lord loves us, makes the things happen that we need. He takes care of us and is our loving heavenly father and that is why we have he gospel restored on the earth today. I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By the way, my English is going down hill again... oh no.
We have cambios this week on Wednesday, it is my last cambio, so we will see how it goes. My comp thinks that she is leaving. I feel like i am staying as usual. We will see. I am game either way. So, if i don’t write on Wednesday i am still here in osorno and if you hear from me on Wednesday i was transferred.
Mom, i think melanie ends her mission in like three more weeks but i am not for sure.
Times flies by soooooooooooooo fast.
Oh by the way, i have walked around for 2 weeks now without a jacket, just sweaters! Yeah!!!! Oh happy day.
no mom, thank you for your help seriously. you don’t even know how much i want to go back and see all the people i have known and grown to love. there is a talk that i love from the conference. read the talk by elder wirthing called the great commandment, it is amazing, the mission has taught me soooooooooooooooooooooooooo much about that, and that is truly why i wanted to go on a mission. amazing how the lord answers our prayers and wants. you don’t´ even know how grateful i am to you and dad, seriously. i am so blessed with the family i have and i know i have never shown it to you either. but truly fro the bottom of my heart thank you.
Love to all! Hna pratt
Okay, with the trip. I am sorry that it has been such a head ache, i wish i could have been more help because i actually know Spanish. Anyway, i don’t remember what i am supposed to answer. Oh yeah, if we want to stay in pto montt. Really, pto montt they say is a lot dangerous and i don’t know how much there really is. My mamita in frutillar said that we could go stay with her for free, she has like a bed and breakfast and she would hold a spot for us if we tell her ahead of time. But because you don’t know Spanish i don’t know how down you would be for that. My vote would probably be to stay in pto varas. I want to see alejandra as much as i can. I would say there. You can ask her where to stay, or just drop her the line and tell her we are going to stay with her! JJJJJ i know she wouldn´t mind. But i know you gusy aren’t all the comfortable staying with other people, and less when you don’t speak the same language as everyone else! JJJJ but they know English, don’t worry, and speak it well. I hope you guys are practicing your spanish, learning a few things. Don’t worry, i know enough Spanish to get around. You guys are really going out of yoru box, thanks. Chile is great but remember that it is a lot poorer than the states, don’t come with the same expectations fro example with hotels and such. But i love Chile really. Do you want me to ask Alejandra if we can stay with her.
So we organized our own activity this week, our mission leader is not active so we are working by ourselves, but this is nothing new. It is always like that, amazing how that is. We had a ward family home evening. Like 25 people got there, it was a greatttttttttt turn out and the best was 6 investigators’! It was awesome. We are improving last week there were 31 or 34 people at church, there were sooooooooooooooo many. It was the most we have had in a long time. We were so pumped. We are working really hard. The members are really starting to trust us and it is going great with them. It is just hard to get people to go to church, everybody wants blessing but nobody wants to do anything for them. So it was a great turn out our ward activity.
I had an interesting experience. I don’t know if i told you, i had a dream about one of the hermanas here in our sector that doesn’t go to church, that is living with her boyfriend and has been to the temple. Long story. But this dream impacted me sooooooooo much, for what i felt, i felt so much painnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn for her not being active and the need for her to go back to chruch. We had a lesson with them that was wonderful. I told her a little about the dream and we were talking about how we were prepared to come to this life before, in the pre-existence and how we were taught the plan of salvation and knew what was coming and we promised to live the gospel and go back to live with god again. I know she was one of the valiant’s that fought hand in hand with Christ and that is why she is hear. I told her we don’t´ remember the other life, some people do, but i don’t but i have feelings or experiences that make me remember what i felt before, who were my closest friends before this life and that i know this is the true church and the prophet is called of god because he sent em here where i have found some of my best friends and because i had promised them i would come back and that the lord as put me with my Chileans again. And as I was saying all of this she started crying and pointing to herself, admitting that we knew each other before and that i was sent there to find her and bring her back. It was such a sweet moment. I wish i could describe the things that i felt but it was something that just pierced my soul and my heart. A confirming testimony that this is the lords work and there is no other, this is the true gospel and no other because if it wasn’t i wouldn’t be here and be helping these people and i wouldn’t be feeling these things that i feel now, knowing that they were my best friends before this life. They are such sacred experiences that i will forever treasure. I wish everyone could just feel and see and experience the things that i have experienced in this time on the mission. The lord loves us, makes the things happen that we need. He takes care of us and is our loving heavenly father and that is why we have he gospel restored on the earth today. I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By the way, my English is going down hill again... oh no.
We have cambios this week on Wednesday, it is my last cambio, so we will see how it goes. My comp thinks that she is leaving. I feel like i am staying as usual. We will see. I am game either way. So, if i don’t write on Wednesday i am still here in osorno and if you hear from me on Wednesday i was transferred.
Mom, i think melanie ends her mission in like three more weeks but i am not for sure.
Times flies by soooooooooooooo fast.
Oh by the way, i have walked around for 2 weeks now without a jacket, just sweaters! Yeah!!!! Oh happy day.
no mom, thank you for your help seriously. you don’t even know how much i want to go back and see all the people i have known and grown to love. there is a talk that i love from the conference. read the talk by elder wirthing called the great commandment, it is amazing, the mission has taught me soooooooooooooooooooooooooo much about that, and that is truly why i wanted to go on a mission. amazing how the lord answers our prayers and wants. you don’t´ even know how grateful i am to you and dad, seriously. i am so blessed with the family i have and i know i have never shown it to you either. but truly fro the bottom of my heart thank you.
Love to all! Hna pratt
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