My First Week!

Wow. I'll tell you what--WOW! (What movie?)

   This week has been AWESOME! I love Sister Thompson and Sister Chen.  At first, I was a little skeptical... not gonna lie.  When we went door contacting the very first day, they didn't say much, and I was a little worried.  When we got to our area, however, I realized why.  We don't ever tract. Ever.  There is so much work to be done here! The members are so enthusiastic about sharing the gospel.  It amazes me all the time. 
   So to all of you at home---Get on it! Help your missionaries out! Let them know that they can come to you for referrals or service! Seriously. Get the missionaries' phone number and CALL THEM.  Ask them to rake your lawn or SOMETHING.  Keep them busy.  Think of anyone you know that wouldn't slam the door in their face, and have their address handy. Missionaries are so ready to teach people, but we don't know every non-member in the area, and we definitely can't tell which ones will reject us.

   Ok. I'll step down from my soap box now.  This week was awesome.  Sister Chen is still learning English, so we have a blast teaching her. Language study might be my favorite hour of the day!  Sister Thompson and I have started by teaching her all the words in like children's songs (In a little cottage by the wood.. a little old man by the window stood).  Also, throughout the day, we have a sheet of paper that we write and define all the words she doesn't understand.  She is getting so much better!

   Sister Chen and I also get along so well! Sometimes we feel like Sister Thompson is our mom because she has to keep us settled down and focused.  Last night, I was going to braid Sis Chen's hair, but right as she was sitting down, I pulled the chair out from under her, and she went sprawling!! She tried to chase me down, but we were laughing so hard we couldn't move.  Sister Thompson had the District Leader on speaker phone, and she just rolled her eyes at us.  She's a saint for putting up with all our shenanigans.  She's super funny, too.  We're always laughing and having a good time.

   This past week we had SUCH a neat experience.  We were going around visiting some members, and Sis Thompson decided we should walk a couple streets over to visit a part member family (pmf).  Well... about 15 minutes later, we couldn't find the street they lived on! It had just about disappeared! I was exasperated because I thought we had wasted all this time and energy.  I basically told Sis Thompson that we needed to find someone to talk to, so this trip would be worthwhile.  She remembered that a member lived just a block away, so we went to visit her.  We ended up being an answer to this Sister's prayer! Her dad had died recently, and her house/property was a mess.  One of her neighbors actually called the cops about it! She was so embarrassed and had no idea how she was going to get everything done and organized.  She was praying for help, and then, we showed up!!  She was SO HAPPY! So were we! We are going over to her house this week to help clean up.  I was definitely put in my place by the Lord.  He is in charge, and he is going to put us where we need to be if we are obedient!

   Those were the highlights... and our car died. That was kind of exciting.  It's running now, but we still have to take it to a shop sometime this week.  I love you all so much!!!! Can't wait to hear all about your missionary experiences!

SEND PICTURES OF YOURSELVES!! Whenever someone finds out that I have 10 siblings, they all want to see pictures, but I don't have any!!

Parklin: I totally found Elder Methvin at the airport on our way here! He's pretty cool.

E.P.E.D.

Sister Pratt

Made it!

Hot Pockets volleyball team

Our Study Desk

Her name is Posche.  She lives in our house

Sister C

Sister T

 

I'M IN IDAHO! Current Contact info

 

People!

I love it here. The weather is BEAUTIFUL. I seriously couldn't have asked for anything more.

I don't have much time, so I'll just do highlights of this week!

 

Elder Oaks came to visit at the MTC! He gave such a  wonderful talk and his wife talked too!

 

The Elders/teachers of our district in the MTC did a push-up contest. It was HILARIOUS.

 

I saw Derrick Asay during in field orientation on thursday! :)

 

We had a volleyball team called the Hot Pockets... undefeated. awesome.

 

We watched Legacy! It was probably the most chick-flick I'm gonna get in the next 18 months so I enjoyed it.

 

So yesterday right off the plane they had us go tracting with some missionaries, and it was super fun!! Today, when I was assigned to my companions, they turned out to be the same ones I had already worked with! They are awesome and I already love them.  Their names are Sister Chen and Sister Thompson.  Sister T is from Texas!  And Sister C is from Taiwan.  Super cool! They're such good trainers, and we are good about pumping each other up for the work. 

 

Also, Sister Chen has the Tribute to Joseph Smith cd! We listened to it on the way here.  It was such a trip down memory lane.  Where did that cd end up anyway...........Foster...? Haha Kidding. Well I love you all so much!!

I don't hav3 time for pics today, and I don't have time to go through and edit, so I'm sorry for any mistakes I've made.

 

I Love You!!

Sister Pratt

 

P.S. My new address that I'll be at for at least 6 weeks is:

1388 W. Crestwood Dr.

Meridian, ID 83642


Here is Sister Pratt's mission home address.  Since you never really know for sure when transfers are, it is safer to send mail directly to the Mission Office to avoid delay or loss that could occur during missionary transfers.  But if you want to get there super fast, you can send it directly to the address above.

Sister Elizabeth Pratt
IDAHO BOISE MISSION OFFICE
1111 South Cole Road
Boise, Idaho 83709
Phone #1-208-343-9883

*All packages sent to the mission home should be sent by Priority or First Class Mail so that they can be forwarded.  Other types of mailing, Parcel Post, UPS, Fed Ex or DHL need to be send directly to the missionary's apartment address, which Sister Pratt just posted in her letter.

Sister Lizzy's Mission President Elder and Sister Winder

Sister Pratt, Sister Chen and Sister T with the Winders

First Letter from the MTC!

FAMILIA!!!!! 

I love you all so much, but more importantly, I love the Lord! I have prayed more in the past 6 days that I ever have before, and it is wonderful. I can't even describe the spirit that is on this campus. It overwhelms me all the time.  My district also, is so cool! We have the best zone ever.  

I also have the best companion ever, and we are learning new things about each other everyday. Last night we found out that we share an undying love for the Scarlet Pimpernel!!!!! It was basically the best part of my week. Beside the time when our teacher growled at us.... but that's another story..... Sister Emmett (yes, I think about Emmett all the time) is from Liberty, MO! So she basically lives down the street from Liberty Jail. SO COOL!

For all those who haven't heard, Sister Emmett and I have been called as Sister Training Leaders. It sounds a lot cooler than it is. We just love the girls and interview them every once in a while, but we love it! It has strengthened our companionship so much.  The other two sisters in our district are HILARIOUS! We basically have the time of our lives every time we're together. Their names are Sister Muaina and Sister Christofferson (distant relation of the apostle).  The crazy thing is, though, that they are going to Lubbock, TX on their missions! In fact, Sis E and I are the only ones in our district going to Boise.  The others are all going back to Tejas.

I absolutely love our teachers SO MUCH! They just know exactly what to say all the time whenever we're doing role plays or just in class. They are Brother Frost and Blatter. They both recently got off their missions, and they are on FIRE!  I wish I had a picture of them to send, but they are never at class together...

THE GOSPEL IS TRUE!! I'm learning more than I ever thought I could. We just got back from the temple, actually, and it was probably the best experience I've had! Everything is just so much better here. I don't know how. It's crazy.

Thanks for all of the pictures! They help more than anything for me to feel in touch! I seriously cannot handle Emmett's new face. I feel like he's growing up so much already. Also, I really enjoy dearelder.com so I can hear from you in between p-days.  I'm pretty sure my box number is 922, but I think the whole address is somewhere on this blog anyway.  Thanks for the package, too! The little sign "Don't count the days, make every day count" was in our classroom for a couple of days to lift everyone's spirits.  I also REALLY appreciated the peanut butter crackers...

Something kinda crazy that happened was Sis E and I arrived in a meeting and I looked down to see the back of my heel bleeding! I was really confused until I realized that my feet/legs were numb, so I didn't feel my skin completely rubbing off... so that's something I'm trying to deal with right now. I don't mind it because normally my feel are numb, but it's bothersome that I keep getting blood on my shoe. Bummer.

Parklin: Thanks so much for all of your advice! I passed on the bagel and jello tips to my zone. They were quite appreciative. :)

Robin and Foster: So jealous about Nathan Pacheco! I love his concerts so much, and I actually found an Elder here that is also a big fan!  We kind of flipped out.

Crooke: Tell Hannah I said congrats, and I really like the name they picked out :)

Love you all!!!

Sister Pratt

Sisters in my Zone-Purple p-day

Sister Emmett

Sister Muiana

Sister Christofferson

gym time!

Love these socks!

Awesome Elders refuse to get picture taken

MTC Teachers--Loved them!

grass angels

A Texas License Plate,  YES!!!

 

Sister Pratt sightings!

Sister Pratt does not have to worry that she will ever be forgotten!  We have this big reminder floating around the house trying to pass out pass along cards with that big beautiful smile.  Blizzard, your nieces and nephews will remember "Aunt Lizzy"!!!

 

Here are some other pictures taken before Sister Pratt left.

Some significant mission preparation days:

Lizzy opening her mission call

Dallas Temple Day

Goodbye Party

Sister Pratt with the Sister Missionaries

The night she was "set apart" as a missionary 10/2/2013

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October 9, 2013 The Mission Begins! Entering the MTC

Family!

I love you all so much!! More importantly, though, I love my Father in Heaven, and I can't wait to serve him!  I don't think having my missionary email on the googlegroups would be good because a lot of time we're sharing links and/or videos we've found.  BUT I would like to be added to conversations about the monthly challenge, family pictures, etc.  

I'll talk to you all on Christmas! :)

TTFN,

Sister Pratt 

Sister Elizabeth Pratt's Contact information

Emailing is awesome!  but there's nothing better than getting a letter in the mail!!!

Sending a letter through dearelder.com is easy and free while she's in the mtc.  Go to dearelder.com and put in Lizzy's info including her unit #922 (see below)  She's going to the Boise Idaho mission.

Elizabeth.pratt@myldsmail.net

MTC Address
Sister Elizabeth Pratt
OCT22  ID-BOI
2025 N 900 E Unit 922
Provo UT 84602

Instructions from the MTC

 1. Your service begins the day you check into the MTC.  Remind your family that complete separation from loved ones is part of the sacrifice that families and missionaries contribute to the work.  For this reason, you should ask your family and friends not to attempt to see or visit with you while you are at the MTC, not even during your temple walks or at other places near the MTC.
  2. All missionary mail must come through the US Mail or commercial delivery services.  These services should not be used to send pizzas, fast foods, ice-cream, or any items that will spoil if they are not refrigerated within 24 hours.  Missionaries are not called out of class to receive packages, nor do they have access to a refrigerator.  For security reasons, we cannot accept any items delivered by hand.
  3. Communication with family can be done through your missionary email account on your weekly Preparation Day. We cannot accept telephone calls for missionaries.
  4. Families and friends should not visit missionaries as they depart to their field of labor, whether at the MTC or at the airport.

 After October 22-  All mail sent should be addressed to the Mission Office to avoid delay or loss that could occur during missionary transfers.

Sister Elizabeth Pratt
IDAHO BOISE MISSION OFFICE
1111 South Cole Road
Boise, Idaho 83709
Phone #1-208-343-9883

*All packages sent to the mission home should be sent by Priority or First Class Mail so that they can be forwarded.  Other types of mailing, Parcel Post, UPS, Fed Ex or DHL need to be send directly to the missionary's apartment address, which you can get from the Pratts.

I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go!

Sister Elizabeth Pratt enters the MTC on Oct 9, 2013