Friends and Family

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