December 17

(A note from Jessica- My apologies for the late arrival of this letter. Emma did send it on the 17th, but I didn't get it until a few days later, and my email has been wonky. I heard she has emailed another one to my mom, so you may get double-postings in the next few days. Also, it has been requested that I add her Brazil address. I don't have it, so if you do, please put it in the comments, and I'll get it on the side-bar. Assuming the visa goes well, she should get to Brazil on January 11th, so letters sent now would be good, because of the delay in mail.)

Sunday, I played piano, set-up the sister's singing, and we sung Mary's lullaby in Portuguese AND I was called up to give a talk AGAIN! But this time in Portuguese. It was a great opportunity to speak, but I was shocked. There are 70 people in our branch, and only 2 speak a week. Whatever, it was good. For Relief Society we heard Sister Christofferson speak, the wife of Elder Christofferson. She talked about the story Hugh B. Brown gave about the Currant Bush. She sort of botched the staory (I think it was a spur of the moment side note) so I looked it up and read it. It had a great affect on me and my purpose for serving a mission. I'm realizing some of the reasons why I need to serve and why the Lord needs me here. You should read the story, It's awesome.

Sister Bee and I were having some companion struggles last week, but we really talked it out on Sunday and this week has gone so well. Our district, in particular the Elders are starting to lose some motivation and focus of being here. Our teachers talked to us for a while, in English too (thats when you know its really really important). Sister Bee and I feel we haven't lost focus, but as a district we have, and we're part of that district. Last night at our weekly planning, our teacher came to see how we were doing. He sat with his mouth slightly open, I wasn't sure if he was mad or happy, but he said we do everything so well and he wished we were serving in the same area. As Sister Bee and I talked, we realized we really need to enjoy every moment here. It feels like we are just each other's companions for the whole 18 months, and we're going to conquer Brazil together. We're are already on our 6th week! Saying goodbye to her is going to be so so hard. I'm so glad I have her to really boost me into the life as a missionary.

Sunday night the missionaries are supposed to watch a film, like Legacy or The Testaments. Or you can study. Sister Bee and I went and explored as much internet as is allowed, and discovered so many films on-line. Like the armor of God film! And we laughed so hard, its amazing how your humor changes. But we needed to laugh with eachother since the week was hard. Also, the devotional that night was the BYU Men's Chorus. I loved hearing music and being at a concert. I miss music so much. I sit and listen to MoTab ffrom the Christmas Devotional sing "What Shall We Bring" over and over again because I miss song not in the hymn book. Or in Portuguese. Or in the Portuguese Hymn book.

This week, every day I woke up and said to myself "Hoje vai ser um dia boa. Eu posso falar Portugues" Today will be a great day. I can speak Portuguese. That attitude adjustment changed my world. I was speaking like crazy in Portuguese! We taught the plan of Salvation, in Portuguese and committed 2 people to be baptized! If you don't believe in the gift of tongues, you should here what comes out of my mouth after just 5 weeks. I'm more shocked than anyone else! I love it though.

Every visa that goes to the San Diego Consolate makes it through. The others are slow. Especially the LA one, that where all the Utah residents goes. Sister Bee and I have talked a lot about our re-assignments. She is struggling with it a lot more than I am. She has got a great grasp on the language, and is very anxious to just be there, teaching the people. She spent a year in Chile, so doesn't have some of the same concerns I do about moving to South America. Not to say I'm not super excited or anxious for my visa. I pray for it everyday. My biggest concern is being in the States for 5 months, and losing my Portuguese. I've heard horror stories of missionaries stuck here so long, they are given the option to not go, just stay in the States. I WILL BE IN BRAZIL! I'm okay with a re-assignment, but Salvador needs me, and I need them.

This week we taught the first lesson in Portuguese to a native Brazilian lady. I had absolutely no idea what was going on. So I nodded and smiled. I knew when Sister Bee turned to my, it was my turn to recite the first vision and bear my testimony. I felt the spirit, so I thought the lesson was great! I just thought, man I can not wait to get to Brazil. I'll have a trainer, I'll speak up when I can, but I'll be so completely lost, It'll be awesome! Lets go! Apparently, though, after we were done Sister Bee was annoyed because while trying to teach the Lady wasn't being an investigator, or correcting Sister Bee and my Portuguese. She was correcting the way we were teaching and telling us how to teach them. SIster Bee was super annoyed, but laughed at it at the same time. I was just like, Joseph Smith was a prophet! Woohoo! Haha, it was funny. The highlight of our week, really.

This week I've been cross referencing and studying the times in the Book of Mormon that talk about being an instrument in the hands of the Lord. Thats why I am at the MTC, I am fine tuning my speaking skillls, teaching skills, knowledge of the gospel, personal testimony and spiritual awareness so that I can be merely and instrument for God in bringing His children to the gospel. I was never really aware of just how important this work is until I got here. This is people's salvation we;re talking about! Very Important.

Well, I'll handwrite personally back. But I'm running out of time. I love you all, and wish you a veru Merry Christmas!

TE AMO! Feliz Natal! :)
Sister Emma Pratt