Pratt, Betsey

We had transfers! Another morning spent waiting in the mission office, Hermana Garcia left with her new comp basically as soon as we got there so I was waiting with other hermanas. I got to see Hermana Eriksson, and it was a grand reunion. President was taking all kinds of pictures which I know my mom appreciates.  But what you've all been waiting for... my new comp is.... Hermana Balmaceda!!! She is from Paraguay and has 1 year in the mission. It's been fun getting to know her and we've been working super hard.  We had a ton of lessons this week, and we have a baptism this saturday! We also have a bunch of people progressing and are hoping to have a family baptized in the next couple of weeks.  We have been walking a bunch. And even though it's freezing in the mornings and it feels like the weather might be changing, it is still a thousand degrees everyday! Ok, only like 36, which always makes me think it should be cold. I still haven't figured out the exact conver...

Please share a few successes and/or challenges from your efforts to fulfill your missionary purpose this past week. esta semana pasada tuvimos mas lecciones y asistencias de cada otra semana en el cambio, y al final tenemos una fecha por Gabriela este sabado. yo siento que la obra aqui en collao finalmente es creciendo. un desafio es compartiendo el barrio con otras hermanas, en realidad ellas son buenas misioneras y trabajar mucho, y eso es bueno pero es dificil cuando ellas tienen mucho exito total al tiempo y nosotras no tiene tan exito, y yo siento como en una competition con ellas, y ellas siempre van a ganar porque ellas tienen muchas miembros, y una parte del sector mas chicitito. estoy trabajando para cambiar mi perspectivo y actitud y hacer la obra, estamos trabajando con el obispo. pero eso es dificil a veces. What is one area you can focus on this coming week to more closely follow the principles in Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ? no haciendo comparismos,...

This week was crazy, like every week. It felt like the most productive of the transfer.  Last Monday we made empanadas with the bishop's wife.  On Tuesday we didn't have water for a couple hours, which is always a party.  We ate at home 3 times this week, which was unusual but it was alright.  We found a bunch of new people, had some super powerful lessons, put an amiga on date to be baptized next month, and walked so much. I completed 4 months as a missionary! and I finished reading the Book of Mormon in english for the first time as a missionary!  I learned that Hermana Hiatt and Redding were renaming the different sections of our area, things like Mt.Everest, Jurassic Park, Wakanda, and the Fire Nation. The fire nation just happens to be the one of the furthest, hottest areas of our area, where we go pretty much every day.  We were melting this week, except for one day that was randomly really cold.  They also informed ...

Anyone ever tried Chowfu (if that's how it's spelled)? Well I did this week and it was really good, I think it's Peruvian. It was like fried rice, and for dessert we had pancakes! Other fun foods this week were the biggest pot of mashed potatoes I've ever seen, more chicken and rice, and just about every type of salad there is.  Everyone remembers our friend that lived in a different area and then was on date to be baptized, right? Well we were talking with the elders on Wednesday and asked how he was doing, and turns out he is a member, he was already baptized and he forgot, but the people of that ward knew who he was and the situation. So that is the crazy ending to that crazy story. We had intercambios this week and I lead the area for the first time with Hermana Transtrum, and it was better than I thought it would be!  We visited with the bishop's wife and she works in the Deseret book of Chile, and she has a collection of copies of the Book of Mormon in a bunch...

Golden things that happened this week: -We had another Blitz to find new people in our area - We visited with some members on their 31 wedding anniversary, they told us their story and shared their really good cake with us! -We had interviews with President and I presented our amigo in the district council all by myself while my companion was in her interview, it was a little scary to stand in front of everyone and explain it all in Spanish, but I did it!! -I tried a candy called 'Tubitos' it tasted like the bottom of a peanut butter bar -We walked a lot -It's been hot, but apparently because we are right by the ocean, the days are usually overcast, so that's nice -We had lunch with a family who has an 8 year old and a 10 year old, and that was wild. Kids always seem to be the best at insulting the little Spanish I know, but also wanting to talk to me. -We met some new people and gave them a Book of Mormon, but we had to go back to get a second one for their friend, and...

Please share a few successes and/or challenges from your efforts to fulfill your missionary purpose this past week. Yo siento el espíritu abriendo mi corazón, y siento más amor por las personas aquí. Mis oraciones son los mejores de mi vida y yo siento el poder de Dios en mi vida. Yo siento energía y fortaleza que no pienso fue possible. La obra es lento, pero esta bien, esta semana pasada vimos milagros y encontramos personas con mucho potencial What is one area you can focus on this coming week to more closely follow the principles in Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ? Testificando con el espíritu y poder, yo puedo prometer y testificar pero a veces yo siento under qualified, entones yo puedo mejorar Who did you participate in exchanges with? How did the exchange go? Is there anything happening at home or with your family that you would like to share? (Optional) Is there anything else you would like to share? (Optional)

Please share a few successes and/or challenges from your efforts to fulfill your missionary purpose this past week. We had a lesson with our friend Jaime fue muy bien. Hablamos con muchas personas en la calle, y poco por poco somos buscando quien de nuestras amarillos y verdes son real y progresando! Con la navidad muchas personas no pueden visitarles con nosotras What is one area you can focus on this coming week to more closely follow the principles in Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ? Yo puedo ser muy paciente y confiar en mi Salvador y su plan para mi Who did you participate in exchanges with? How did the exchange go? Is there anything happening at home or with your family that you would like to share? (Optional) Is there anything else you would like to share? (Optional) During the past month, how have you seen the hand of the Lord in your work? Cuando seguimos el espíritu en la calles y buscar personas que son interesada, se que este es el mano del señor. En lecc...

Prospero ano y felicidad!  The New Year in Chile is really big I guess, because everyone and their goldfish was out of town or too busy to meet with the missionaries this week.  We spent lots of time walking and sending messages trying to find anyone to meet with us. Luckily the bishop let us visit, was it just out of obligation because we are the missionaries and he is the bishop, I guess we will never know.  Saturday was the start of the festivities, which meant that the streets were empty and every store was closed. We had to be home by 8, but we had our own celebration with treats! Then only 10 people showed up to church on time the next morning (4 of them being the 4 of us missionaries).  So hopefully now that the festivities are coming to an end, the work can really start to thrive here in Collao. We actually had an amigo who was progressing, and reading the Book of Mormon, and we were ready to put him on date! Then we went to visit him on Friday, and...