In the field!

I survived my first week in the field. Just barely though;) considering I got here in the freezing cold with no winter clothes. But no worries, I only went tracting without boots once, and it was only for 45 minutes. Its really warmed up now, and Pueblo isn't as cold as the Springs, so don't worry abot sending winter stuff, I'll be fine.

I met my mission president, President Pfile. He is an awesome, amazing and funny man. I guess this mission really struggled before he stepped in and has turned it around. I got my trainer, her name is Sister Hilbert and she is from Australia! This is her second to last transfer and has been in Pubelo Colorado for 10 months of her mission. She knows the area really well, and the people too and they love her. She has been teaching me how things are done here, especially teaching me not to stress about everything.

Our first day, one of my first door contacts in my area, we were let in by a man named Hyrum. He was really interested in this concept that Jewish people came to the Ancient Americas because he is from Mexico, and is an Orthodox Jew and wants to do his family history to trace back to the Jews. We had an official appointment set with him, but his wife ended up in the hospital with a heart attack. He called us and asked us to visit her and bring her a Book of Mormon (Yes, he has only met us once, on his doorstep). We visited her, and she said they were both looking for a church and her husband has been reading the book we gave him. We still haven't gotten to teach them a full lesson, but I called him yesterday to see how things were going and he said, "Oh its so great you called right now, we were just reading in the book of Nephi together!" I was so surprised, I didn't even know what to say! We're pretty excited about them.

We have a few other people that we are teaching, only once so far, one who has accepted a baptism date. So I have gotten plenty of chances to teach the restoration and first vision, but haven't done any follow-ups since. I guess I could tell you a little about the area of Pueblo. I don't really know much so far, but I do know it is a more poor area of Colorado. The people here are humble, and many are looking for peace, comfort, and forgiveness in their lives. I'm finding my first challenge as a missionary is seeing these people open up to you with their struggles, but not willing to change their ways because its too hard. I wish I could just open their minds and put in everything I know and feel. But it doesn't work that way. Sister Hilbert told me that often the lessons your investigators need to learn are lessons you need to learn too. I can see this as I struggle to go through hard changes in order to be more converted to the Lord so that I can better bring others unto Him. I told Sister Hilbert that, she said "Well, will you hurry up and learn that lesson so that our investigators will too?" Haha! She is a great trainer, and just goes to show the Lord really knows what He is doing when He put me with her. (Now, you really really have to believe me this time. She is totally awesome. My last companion and I had problems, but I loved her and the Lord really knew what he was doing then, even through my frustrations. But sister Hilbert is totally awesome. And has a sweet accent :) ) She'll be teaching, and the person will say something or ask something, I won't know how to respond, she know exactly what to do and I just think, Whoa! That was totally Awesome! Someday...I will be able to do that. In Portuguese.

Our District Leader is pretty awesome too, he goes over and above expectations to really help us be great missionaries. Sister Hilbert says he will ruin ever other District Leader I will have after this, because he is the greatest.

This past sunday was Stake Conference, we had a potential of 10 investigators coming, and 1 came! We are just as excited for that one and we would be for 10. We have taught a lot of families, so think that this sunday will be a little easier to get people to church, with the different activities. Plus, church is at 12, I guess it just changed from 8:30, which was hard. Basically, I'm not a pro-missionary yet, but I made it through the first week. I got through many firsts, my first birthday in the field (which was great, by the way), by first door slams, my first rejection, my first baptism date, my first um..interesting...dinner appointment (if you know what I mean), my first few tiny little glimpes of the Savior's Atonement and the pain he felt for others, my first day of tracting 3 hours in 10 degree weather and not scheduling a single return appointment. I am remembering it is the Lord's work. We talk to everyone at every door, not because every person will listen, but because we must find those who the Lord has prepared to accept Him. I love it here! I'm grateful to be learning everything in english too, I tink it will really help me in Brazil, I'll know what I'm doing, I just gotta translate it into Portuguese :) i love you, and miss you. (PS Just send to the address I gave you, they forward it. They can only forward first class packages though, not UPS or FEDEX, so...yea...)

LOVE YOU!
Sister Pratt