"I Love Her So I Let Her Help"

I truly wish I was more consistent with getting these emails out — my apologies BUT I'm so glad you're here! Welcome back.

This week was actually so crazy!!

To start us off, the title of this week's email comes from a story someone told on Sunday. They told a story about how their MTC teacher was seriously good at making cookies, but he had this little niece that liked to help! He said, "when she would help me it would take a little longer, and they wouldn't turn out exactly how I wanted them to. But I love her so I let her help." He then related that to missionaries. AND it reminded me of Elder Shumway's talk from conference! He says, "If Christ were physically here, He would visit the sick, teach the Sunday School class, sit with the heartbroken young woman, and bless the children. He can do His own work. But He lives this principle of letting us act and learn, so He sends us in His place." I am not a perfect missionary, and I never will be. But I know that I'm doing His work, because I love Him! And I know that He lets me help because He loves me. So that was pretty sweet and deserved to be the title for this week.

Now let's get into all the fun things going on!

Monday was our last p-day of the transfer! So bittersweet but it was so fun! We were up in Salina and played sand volleyball at a Sonic, literally so random I know. Then we played some pickleball (me and Elder Campbell COOKED! Absolutely destroyed Elder Ashcraft and Elder Snow.) Then me and Goates came home, she finished packing all of her stuff up and I packed my overnight bag. AND my mom door dashed us JC's.

Tuesday! Transfers! We got up and literally didn't even have any time to take a post-standards nap. We had to take two or three trips down to the car (the third floor view is nice but the stairs are not) but we were on our way! Stopped and saw the Wichita temple!! And then that was it! We pulled up to the mission office, got our new companions, I cried in the hallway when Sister Goates hugged me, she got her stuff and left! AND SHE HAS SWIG IN HER AREA. But Maize is so lucky to have her.

New comp alert! I'm getting follow-up trained by Sister Ackerson!! She's from Heber and she's just the cutest ever. Last transfer God did the free trial and sent us on exchanges together but now I get to keep her! We basically just hung out the rest of the day in Wichita. Got Swig and Trader Joe's, and Panera for dinner, then we got to have a sleepover with the SMLs! And during our prayer Sister Rappleye made sure to pray for all of our future husbands.

Wednesday I had to go back to train the trainers — which is that like 4-hour training with all the brand new missionaries but looking back it wasn't that bad. (Now we have a joke that I'm going to train right out of training and have to go for a third time hahah.) AND I GOT MY TIWI CARD!! LET'S GOOOO!!! I'M LEGAL AGAIN!! I was so excited I drove the two hours home back to Junction lol. Of course, we stopped at Swig on the way. After we got back we went straight to base to get a base pass, came home for like 15 minutes probably and then went to dinner with Elder and Sisters Bentley (Sis Ackerson's grandparents + aunt!) They were so sweet and Sister Bentley sent pictures to my mom. Oh my goodness, I forgot to tell Sister Goates this on Monday but we texted Brennah saying we need to reschedule a lesson and I turn to Sister Ackerson and I go "10 bucks says she calls us rn" and I kid you not like 5 seconds later she's calling us. I was dying.

Thursday was weird and we had to move DCM again this week so it threw me off. But shout out to Elder Franklin for the random motivational conversation during p-study. Guys — missions are TOUGH so just remember "no missionary is perfect, and hey you know enough." Me and Sister Ackerson also went and took some pics by this cute mural and that was pretty much it for Thursday. Oh except we had a lesson with Brennah and we're like "ok we'll switch you your vapes for these suckers." She says okay AND MISS GURL COMES BACK WITH 4 DIFFERENT VAPES. Wild.

By Friday the week had slowed down again so it was dragging a little bit. I've been feeling kind of unmotivated and tired the past couple days tbh. But it's okay! Sports night was peak! I'm freaking cracked at volleyball lol. OH! BUT GUESS WHAT HAPPENED!!! My mentor Sarah Smyth just casually dropped this bomb on us during our call that IT WAS HER LAST DAY AT THE MTC?!!!?! So now I have a follow-up trainer and a follow-up infield mentor. Anyway — Friday was lit.

Saturday was actually just so exhausting. We knocked for hours and hours and didn't find anyone, I didn't eat lunch purely just because there wasn't anything good in our fridge. But we made lots of pass along cards and put them on tons of doors! So Saturday was a day of tiny miracles. I've been pondering a lot lately and trying to change my mindset on some things so I've just been saying to myself "how lucky am I that I'm missing my family! That means I love them so much! How lucky am I that I miss going to the temple! That means I'll have a real PURPOSE and DESIRE to go when I'm back!" I invite you all to take something like that in your life and try to make it positive. It doesn't change the situation but it changes how you think and you're able to see the Lord's hand in your life more abundantly and really just be more grateful for things in your life!

Sunday — happy Sabbath! We had our four hours of church then our meetings like usual AND THEN A LINGER LONGER!!! Y'all. Fast Sunday linger longers just hit so different. Oh we also went into Young Women's for second hour of the 1st ward and got to talk about our missions and stuff and it was just so precious. Then!! We had some lessons over the phone and do y'all remember Ish?! My miracle find Ish!! On Saturday when we were out contacting I was thinking we should go visit him, AND THEN THE ELDERS TEXT US SAYING THEY SAW HIM AND TALKED TO HIM AND HE SAID WE COULD COME OVER ON SUNDAY!! SO WE GO! AND ISH WASN'T HOME!! And then this guy from downstairs Derek starts talking to us about how God is a murderer because of the flood and we shouldn't have agency and blah blah blah. He also started this all by saying he didn't believe in God at all so I'm like.. huh? Anyway I basically left him with "well Derek I'd love to do some research for you on these questions, could we come back sometime?" And he was like yeah I'm home all the time so I'm like awesome bye. Aaaanyway so just some good stuff! It was a good week! AND EASTER NEXT WEEK!

I hope you're all doing amazing! I literally pray for all of you every single night, you can ask Sister Ackerson! I'm out in the living room couch praying for at least 10 minutes!! I just love you all so so much. Email me!! Tell me everything!!

Until Monday hahah

Y'all know where to find me

-Sister Pratt

P.S. (I love getting mail)

1810 Caroline Ave #i-303

Junction City, KS 66441

P.P.S. (just join, I know you want to)

https://photos.app.goo.gl/EUo2udgYkUMtQdUV6

And hey!! Jesus loves you!!

We love Salina zone

bro Newman is moving back to Utah!

This has to be why we're asked to get up at 6:30. God doesn't want us to miss His sunrises