Family and Friends!
My Thanksgiving was really good. I wasn't homeseick, although I do miss everyone. Having our own Thanksgiving helped because it felt like I already had one. Elder Holland came and spoke, and it was so incredibly amazing! (crazy that you were just telling me about him, Dad) He talked about a lot of things, but the main things that affected me were when he talked about those of us who will be so priveleaged and honored to be spending our missions among the poor people in the world. (Thats me!) He said what blessings and lessons we will learn be eating, sleeping and living with them and what wonderful people we will meet and miracles that will happen among those people. It made me even more anxious to get to Brazil. Although I am very sure I will be spending the remainer of my MTC time in Provo. He also talked about the Savior and the Atonement. The end of his talk he told us don't you dare wish you were anywhere but here serving a mission. Sister Bee and I discussed there is a difference between being homesick and missing your family. I do miss everyone a lot, mostly because I wish you were all here experiencing the things I am. (Although I don't wish you to be experience the food here. Its not bad, but its not good. It doesn't really matter though, food isn't important. Another thing I was shocked to hear myself say). This year for Thanksgiving I am most grateful for the Book of Mormon! (Man, I sound so much like a missionary, its scaring me right now. But in my defense, the first day we're taught to only write positive things home. There are hard things here, but I am handling them much better than I thought). I love reading the Book of Mormon, and have been able to help Sister Bee study the scriptures. I never knew it was one of my strengths until I got here. She helpd me with language, I help her with scripture study. I'm glad I have something to contribute, since I need so much help learning the language. It is amazing how much I already know though. I pray, bear my testimony, and know the first vision, and I can contact someone, roughly. Our teacher told Sister Bee and I we are both really good missionaries and that we are great teachers. Until...we attempted to teach the Law of Chastity, without any instruction from our teacher. None of the Elders would do it, and it needed to be done. Now everyone has to re-do it today because we didn't do it well. But in my defense, it was the first attempt. And it wasn't a real investigator. How crazy would it be to go out and teach the gospel without any training? Especially in the language. That is absolutely crazy to me. Just so you know, when we get enough pictures, sister Bee will make me a CD to send to you guys instead of trying to e-mail it. We only have 30 minutes on the computer, and that time goes crazy fast. Dear Elder is good, although I do love the handwriting. But with Dear Elder, while in Provo, I hear from you the day of. So I got your messages the day you wrote them. I got a lot of letters this week too, I've been writing ALL day. Luckily our P-days aren't too busy while in the MTC. Not sure that stays true in the field. Sorry this is so short! And pretty scattered. Basically I'm learning lots, and having a good time. The elders in our district are pretty good, its amazing to watch them, and myself, grow literally every single day. Love you all!
Sister Pratt
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Week 2
Bom dia! (bong-gee-ah) good day! Since I am in provo, not Brazil, if you were planning on sending a package, I'd love some real lotion from the outside world, I forgot how dry it gets here. And oreos. And maybe a symphony bar for my companion, just because we love her. :) If you have time, just some suggestions.
So, lots happening here! You know how I said we need to have a talk prepared for Sacrament meeting, and the Branch President calls you up on the spot? Guess who got to give the first talk on their first week! Yep, me! I'm really glad though because the first week can be in English. From now on we have to prepare them in Portuguese. Hopefully I won't get called twice in a row, but you never know with this Branch President. I also got a calling! I'm the Branch music coordinator. Its like the only calling besides District leader and Zone leader here. I'm one of only 2 people that plays piano, and I'm supposed to get a special musical number every week. And it has to be in Portuguese. I can do it though, I'm excited because I miss the piano and music in my life.
So some interesting things, on Sunday nights we get to watch church films. this week was the Testaments, and my companion and I were a little concerned that we found it so entertaining. We think maybe this place is messing with us. For example, we find really strange and silly things to be funny. I can't even tell you because it would come out sounding so ridiculous. But at least we're having a lot of fun. On Tuesday we have devtional. The five weeks preceding us were all Apostles, last Tuesday was Elder Bednar, which I'm sad I missed out on. But it was still really good! We started off by singing the Armies of Helaman, singing that with 2,000 missionaries was so amazing! There was a lot of power, it was one of those moments where they were real missionaries, not just a bunch of obnoxious 19 year-old boys (they remind me of that enough).
The language is going okay. I can pray pretty well, i have our purpose memorized, and the first vision memorized in Portuguese. And I can bear my testimony, and make a sort of choppy contact. I need to work on the contacting. Especially since I'll have to be teaching in portuguses pretty soon. One of our teachers, i really connect with on the language front, the other one not so much. But the other one i have learned so much about how to teach well and be a missionary. so they balance each other out.One of the districts in our Branch leaves this week, out of 12 people only 1 got their visa. The others are going to Boston, Arizona or St. George Utah. Its a new mission, we think maybe they opened it just so they had a place to stick us Brazil people :)
Our schedule changes a lot, and things work a little different for us since we technically aren't supposed to be here. They try to fit us in, but so little people are making it to Brazil MTC, they try to squeeze us in here. Its okay, we go with the flow.
So we have these pretend progressing investigators, I think I told you about them. There is one named Paulo and we taught the first lesson. Everyone was supposed to prepare the second one, but none of the Elders prepared, they were in trouble, but we got to teach the second one, and we committed him to baptism! it was exciting, even though its not real, but it seems so real when you're teaching him. i can't describe it. We were excited though.
Also, you guys should try Dear Elder.com You can just write on there, and it gets mail here really fast! Mail moves slow, it tooke me 3 days to get a letter from nancy who is only in SLC. I'm not sure how dear elder works, but its not hard. it gives me letters in the mail! or just keep hand writing, i love that too!
Times up! I Love you ALL!! Miss you tons!!
Sister Emma Pratt
So, lots happening here! You know how I said we need to have a talk prepared for Sacrament meeting, and the Branch President calls you up on the spot? Guess who got to give the first talk on their first week! Yep, me! I'm really glad though because the first week can be in English. From now on we have to prepare them in Portuguese. Hopefully I won't get called twice in a row, but you never know with this Branch President. I also got a calling! I'm the Branch music coordinator. Its like the only calling besides District leader and Zone leader here. I'm one of only 2 people that plays piano, and I'm supposed to get a special musical number every week. And it has to be in Portuguese. I can do it though, I'm excited because I miss the piano and music in my life.
So some interesting things, on Sunday nights we get to watch church films. this week was the Testaments, and my companion and I were a little concerned that we found it so entertaining. We think maybe this place is messing with us. For example, we find really strange and silly things to be funny. I can't even tell you because it would come out sounding so ridiculous. But at least we're having a lot of fun. On Tuesday we have devtional. The five weeks preceding us were all Apostles, last Tuesday was Elder Bednar, which I'm sad I missed out on. But it was still really good! We started off by singing the Armies of Helaman, singing that with 2,000 missionaries was so amazing! There was a lot of power, it was one of those moments where they were real missionaries, not just a bunch of obnoxious 19 year-old boys (they remind me of that enough).
The language is going okay. I can pray pretty well, i have our purpose memorized, and the first vision memorized in Portuguese. And I can bear my testimony, and make a sort of choppy contact. I need to work on the contacting. Especially since I'll have to be teaching in portuguses pretty soon. One of our teachers, i really connect with on the language front, the other one not so much. But the other one i have learned so much about how to teach well and be a missionary. so they balance each other out.One of the districts in our Branch leaves this week, out of 12 people only 1 got their visa. The others are going to Boston, Arizona or St. George Utah. Its a new mission, we think maybe they opened it just so they had a place to stick us Brazil people :)
Our schedule changes a lot, and things work a little different for us since we technically aren't supposed to be here. They try to fit us in, but so little people are making it to Brazil MTC, they try to squeeze us in here. Its okay, we go with the flow.
So we have these pretend progressing investigators, I think I told you about them. There is one named Paulo and we taught the first lesson. Everyone was supposed to prepare the second one, but none of the Elders prepared, they were in trouble, but we got to teach the second one, and we committed him to baptism! it was exciting, even though its not real, but it seems so real when you're teaching him. i can't describe it. We were excited though.
Also, you guys should try Dear Elder.com You can just write on there, and it gets mail here really fast! Mail moves slow, it tooke me 3 days to get a letter from nancy who is only in SLC. I'm not sure how dear elder works, but its not hard. it gives me letters in the mail! or just keep hand writing, i love that too!
Times up! I Love you ALL!! Miss you tons!!
Sister Emma Pratt
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
First letter from the MTC
My companion is Sister Bee. She is from Arizona, and it is absolutely AMAZING how much we have in common. Maybe not personality wise, but as far as the mission goes. We are the same age, both graduated, both had the same struggles with putting in our papers, and getting here to the MTC. We both want to be very obedient and do the extra work to be the best we can be. She is fluent in Spanish, so she understands Portuguese, but is struggling with pronounciation. I can pronounciate things (Rosetta Stone did help A LOT) but I have no idea what I'm saying. So we're a good partnership.
There are sooooo many people waiting for Visas. We can pretty much count on me not going to the Brazil MTC and not getting out of Provo until January 11th. Happy Birthday to me. But that's okay!! I love my teachers, they are so awesome.
Our district is really cool. Some moments, I think Wow, these boys are only 19? Its amazing what the power of being a missionary does to someone. Then there are other moments where I think, um, yea. These boys are straight out of high school Emma, be patient. But I love them all, especially our district leader Elder Brown. He is also going to Salvador which makes me so happy, because he is so amazing. 3 Elders and me are going to Salvador. I can never remember the name of Sister Bee's mission, let alone write it, or even pronounce it. But it is on the north east coast too. (By the way, the final number is 27 Brazil missions).
Our Branch President is Native Brazilian from Recife. (Hay-see-fee). He is really funny, but has extra strict rules for us. I really like them, they are the kind that keep us in line and guide is a good way. People say he is very Brazilian. Each sunday we all need to have a 5 minute talke prepared, in Portuguese, and he will call us by inspiration to come up and speak in Sacrament meeting. This week, we are allowed to speak English, but not next week!!
So, the honest truth, I don't know if it will change after I am here for a few weeks, but as of right now, I really love the MTC. But being able to sit in a classroom and learn things I am thirsting to learn is absolute bliss for me. In fact, all this learning has made me realize how much I don't know, making me more nervous to be out on the streets of Brazil. Sometimes I am incredibly overwhelmed, but I have to remember that I can do it. I can see where you call this place a prison though, the scheduling thing is a nightmare. I have to plan a schedule, but with my companion, but with my district, oh yea and my Branch, and my teachers, don't forget that your schedule is basically planned for you. Don't go there wearing those clothes, but go there wearing only these clothes...and so one. Lots and lots and lots of rules. But Sister Bee and I want to keep them all, and do it with a good attitude. I can't even tell you how amazing it is that we are companions. Ah!
As far as language study goes, I have learned to pray, introduce myself as a missionary, share a message of the gospel and make a contact, and bear my testimony. All after 2 days!! CRAZY, huh?!? I love love love Portuguese. I'm often overwhelmed, but still know I can learn it. I love the spirit here, all these missionaries, it is amazing.
We are learning it is all about the pesquiadores (investigators). Even with the pretend "investigators" teaching the character, I have such a love and want to just dump all my knowledge of the gospel into their brain so they can be happy.
We have been getting up earlier to exercise so we have more time, and today I was extra excited to sleep in until 6:30. On a Saturday. Never in my life did I think that would happen. I'll teach you my favorite thing to say so far Parabens!! It means AWESOME! YAY! (pa-da-bangs) I say it too much. We can't give Elders high fives, so we throw up our hands and yell PARABENS!!
I can only e-mail family members. HAND WRITE ME!!! I'll be here a while
Sister Pratt (seest-her Pratt)
There are sooooo many people waiting for Visas. We can pretty much count on me not going to the Brazil MTC and not getting out of Provo until January 11th. Happy Birthday to me. But that's okay!! I love my teachers, they are so awesome.
Our district is really cool. Some moments, I think Wow, these boys are only 19? Its amazing what the power of being a missionary does to someone. Then there are other moments where I think, um, yea. These boys are straight out of high school Emma, be patient. But I love them all, especially our district leader Elder Brown. He is also going to Salvador which makes me so happy, because he is so amazing. 3 Elders and me are going to Salvador. I can never remember the name of Sister Bee's mission, let alone write it, or even pronounce it. But it is on the north east coast too. (By the way, the final number is 27 Brazil missions).
Our Branch President is Native Brazilian from Recife. (Hay-see-fee). He is really funny, but has extra strict rules for us. I really like them, they are the kind that keep us in line and guide is a good way. People say he is very Brazilian. Each sunday we all need to have a 5 minute talke prepared, in Portuguese, and he will call us by inspiration to come up and speak in Sacrament meeting. This week, we are allowed to speak English, but not next week!!
So, the honest truth, I don't know if it will change after I am here for a few weeks, but as of right now, I really love the MTC. But being able to sit in a classroom and learn things I am thirsting to learn is absolute bliss for me. In fact, all this learning has made me realize how much I don't know, making me more nervous to be out on the streets of Brazil. Sometimes I am incredibly overwhelmed, but I have to remember that I can do it. I can see where you call this place a prison though, the scheduling thing is a nightmare. I have to plan a schedule, but with my companion, but with my district, oh yea and my Branch, and my teachers, don't forget that your schedule is basically planned for you. Don't go there wearing those clothes, but go there wearing only these clothes...and so one. Lots and lots and lots of rules. But Sister Bee and I want to keep them all, and do it with a good attitude. I can't even tell you how amazing it is that we are companions. Ah!
As far as language study goes, I have learned to pray, introduce myself as a missionary, share a message of the gospel and make a contact, and bear my testimony. All after 2 days!! CRAZY, huh?!? I love love love Portuguese. I'm often overwhelmed, but still know I can learn it. I love the spirit here, all these missionaries, it is amazing.
We are learning it is all about the pesquiadores (investigators). Even with the pretend "investigators" teaching the character, I have such a love and want to just dump all my knowledge of the gospel into their brain so they can be happy.
We have been getting up earlier to exercise so we have more time, and today I was extra excited to sleep in until 6:30. On a Saturday. Never in my life did I think that would happen. I'll teach you my favorite thing to say so far Parabens!! It means AWESOME! YAY! (pa-da-bangs) I say it too much. We can't give Elders high fives, so we throw up our hands and yell PARABENS!!
I can only e-mail family members. HAND WRITE ME!!! I'll be here a while
Sister Pratt (seest-her Pratt)
Address
My apologies for not having this up yesterday. My computer wasn't cooperating.
Sister Emma Pratt
Salvador Brazil Mission
Provo Missionary Training Center
MTC Box 234-0111
2005 N 900 E
Provo, Utah 84604
Write to her, lots.
Sister Emma Pratt
Salvador Brazil Mission
Provo Missionary Training Center
MTC Box 234-0111
2005 N 900 E
Provo, Utah 84604
Write to her, lots.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
And, she's off!
Welcome to Emma's blog! I'll be updating here how Emma is doing on her adventures in Brazil.
Emma was set apart on November 9th to be a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in the Salvador Brazil mission. She left this morning, bright and early.
The update I got from the airport- She was already talking to the person in line at security about the gospel.
Don't worry, I'll make this blog prettier as time goes on. I will also be adding pictures, too.
Emma was set apart on November 9th to be a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in the Salvador Brazil mission. She left this morning, bright and early.
The update I got from the airport- She was already talking to the person in line at security about the gospel.
Don't worry, I'll make this blog prettier as time goes on. I will also be adding pictures, too.
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