SO life is like crazy. Sometimes
as a missionary, you think that your day will be full of just talking to people
in their houses and teaching nice little lessons and everything cute and
simple.
BUT other times you have to run
all over the world doing errands for other people, helping out sick
missionaries in other areas, going to appointments when the people don´t show
up, trying to be nice to people who start getting all fighty and up in your
face, and even meeting lots of sometimes scary old people who yell at you. But
its totally cool. Its totally part of the job. Usually its really fun and the
dumb things that happen totally get put on the Funny Things of my Day list.
BUt every once in a while, you
can just maybe get a little discourage. Maybe a bit stressed. Maybe a bit
weighed down with all of the people´s problems, the people who aren´t
progressing, the responsibilities, and stuff like that and you just get
tired.
BUT THEN GOD PROVES HE LOVES YOU
IN A SMALL WAY JUST PERFECT FOR YOU. So I had gotten a bit stressed one night
and woke up a bit stressed and when we left the house was a bit stressed. But
suddenly, while walking to an appointment we had, I found exactly what we
needed. No, not money on the ground. No, not a free meal somewhere (I have
discovered that I eat A LOT but don´t worry mom I toally haven´t gained weight).
But instead, an entire park full of about 75 old people doing aerobics. I don´t
know how many of you guys have seen like an old people water aerobics class,
but this was even better. All of them were in their Rocky sweatsuits and doing
their little exercises and some of them had these super intense faces on, and
going all-out. It was maybe the funniest thing I had seen in years. I wanted to
cry laughing right there. Man, it was exactly what I needed that day. And, even
now, I am fighting back a stupid smile in a random internet cafe in the middle
of a foreign country because I just remember that moment. The Big Guy Up There
knows me so so well. I swear he planned that whole thing just to cheer me
up.
OTHER (lame but awesome)
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEEK:
- the song "families can be
together forever" is spanish is translated to "Eternas pueden ser las
familias" (Families can be eternal). We were planning the baptismal
service for Jose and he and his mom were like "oh we wanna sing that one
song that goes ´Cuán grandes pueden ser las familias´ (families can be so big).
I dont know why but it was really funny for all of us. I think we were all
really tired.
- so sometimes as a missionary
you find crazy people. Sometimes you just pass by them and tell them to have a
nice day and then they start Bible-bashing with you in the street. You just
smile and agree because they are saying the truth and quoting the Bible and
then out of nowhere you tell them something else, like asking them to pray and
ask God about the Book of Mormon and saying that he loves us and answers
prayers. then they say funny phrases like "With all of the respect in the
world, you are a liar and stop telling lies." It is really sad but also
funny at the same time. You just kinda have to shake those moments off though
cause sometimes they happen a lot ahahhaa.
- WE FOUND THIS EXCELLENT FAMILY
AND THEY ARE ALREADY MARRIED (uncommon here) AND TOTALLY ACCEPTING AND DOING
ALL OF THE COMMITMENTS WE LEAVEEEEEEEE and it is so so so so great.
- My comp says I look and act
like Dr. House. I don´t know if thats good or not. When I ask him if he means
it in a good way or a bad way, he just looks at me and laughs. I think thats a
bad sign.
- Helping people get rid of
addictions is sometimes really frustrating but also super gratifying. It is
fun.
THE BOOK OF MORMON IS THE BEST
BOOK EVER man it is just so great. For real. I was reading Enos this morning
and MAN I love that chapter. You should all read it. ANDTHEN apply it because
it is the best. I LOVE THAT BOOK SO MUCH.
I LOVE YOUALLLLLLLLLL
Elder Pratt (everyone sees my
name and starts asking me all these questions about Parley P. Pratt. Its kinda
fun sometimes but other times I just like wanna make a formal announcement so I
dont have to have the same convo like 5 times a day hahahhaa)
I am so BAD AT WRITING LETTERS
the thing is I NEVER HAVE TIME AT INTERNET to do everything that I need to do.
So. Today I will try to make up for it and write a little bitty note.
THERE WERE TRANSFERSSSS and now
I am in a new area called Suba, but still here in the city of Bogotá. I have
been in Bogotá a long time, and it is pretty cool. The city really is great.
Suba has some ruraly parts, but its mostly like a, urbany place. There are some
nice spots, some parts a bit less nice, but all in all its noce. A lot of
apartments. a LOT of apartments. Bogotá is so crowded that they stopped
building out, and just started building up. But its still pretty cool. I just
get tired of breathing pollution sometimes hahaha.
BUT my area is super cool.
Elder Landa, my new comp, is super great and we have had some good success here
so far and are hoping to have more. There are a lot of really great people
here. The ward (I´m finally in a ward!!!! and we have a big chapel!!!!!) is
good, but needs a push and some growth so we are working really hard.
THIS WEEK I have learned SO MUCH
about repentance and what it really is. It´s not just a thing that we do once,
get baptized, and call it good. Nor is it something we do on Sunday during the
Sacrament, nor is it somthing we talk about doing and never do. It is a real
life thing that we need to do every day, because we make mistakes every day. We
need to recognize them and do our best to change them ASAP so we can become
better people. It´s crazy. Also, another fun fact: REPENTANCE IS NOT BAD. WE
all think its bad at some point, or if we do it it means we are super hard
sinners, or if we did it that we have a huge dirty past we can never leave.
Repentance is a great thing that should make us happy when we hear about it.
Just think about it. And then try it out. Its pretty much the best.
OKAY SORRY I have no time left.
I love you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Elder Pratt (people here can say
my name a bit better, but its still a work in progress. most people say Prack
hahah)
thanks Mrs. Carrey, fro making
Christmas finally feel like Christmas.
WELL This week was real
interesting for it being Christmas and all, but more because like no one is
home and ready to have appointments with us, which is a big bummer. But
we had some good times with some members and a few investigators along the way.
FUN FACT Christmas Eve and Christmas here for most people (at least in San Luis)
is not a family day, it is a day dedicated to alcohol and being in drunk
parties in the street. Also, being passed out in the middle of the street
Christmas morning. Sounds really special, right? they tell me that the
31st is twice as bad. SKETCHYYYYYYYYYY we are just hoping that this year its
not too bad and even more that the people we visit aren´t out there because
that will be really really sad if we find them. Every cross your fingers for
us!!!!
I don´t have anything more fun
to tell you guys this week than some fun encounters with some drunk people and
even funner encounters when other people yell at them for having yelled at
us!!!!!! We have some angels here keeping watch over us, and we sure are
thankful that one of them is a really cool and moderately scary hairdresser
lady who is about 6 feet tall and big-boned (shout out to those who caught the
Fresh Prince reference) and likes to yell at people when she has scissors and
knives in her hands. GOOOOOOD times.
WELL so I like have to go but I
just wanna us all to remember that the new year is a time of NEW GOALS so LETS
ALL TAKE SOME TIME AND REFLECT and make some goals. And then not just throw
them away or decide that I´ll never eat a whole chocolate cake again AFTER this
last time. LEts all make some goals and stick to them, yeah? (And I´m not jsut
talking about those "get fit" goals, I´m a missionary. you already
know where I´m headed) And when you have set your goals, read Doctrine and
Covenants 123:17 and find the things that are in your reach and do them the
best you can the happiest you can and watch the change. PLZ
I LOVE YOU ALLLLLL
Elder Pratt
I´M GONNA BE IN
COLOMBIA!!!!!!!!!!!
It still doesn´t really feel
like Christmas. Like moments come where it´s like WOAH HOLY SMOKES but the
majority of the time it totally just feels like normal life - WHICH MADE ME
REFLECT and I totally realized that everything that makes Christmas, well,
"Christmas" is not here, like family, Christmas music, live trees
that smell tasty, (optional) snow, smelly tasty treats, BAKING ALL DAY E´ERY
DAY, etc. That means my life is just like my normal life (which is STELLAR for
me because if it felt like Christmas, my life would be like crazy sad hahaha).
But, since it doesn´t, my life is still pretty awesome!
FUN STORIES FROM THE WEEK:
- I, from request of a super
awesome old lady in our branch who needed her Christmas lights to work, tried
(for the first and hopefullly last time in my life) to sauder a tiny wire to a
circuit board with... (drum roll).... A HOT KNIFE!!! I was not successful.
- WE WENT CHRISTMAS CAROLING as
a zone in a few parks in the city and contacted and it was funny and totally
fun, especially when we sang this like funny carol called "Mi Burrito
Sabanero"
- OUT OF NOWHERE it got really
cold and rainy this whole week after like 3 weeks of sun. I´mmmmmmm dreamingggg
of a wetttttttttt Christmasssssss
- I GOT CHRISTMAS MUSIC FROM A
BRO AND THERE IS LIKE A FLIPPING REBA CHRISTMAS CD AND I THOUGHT OF MY DAD also
MICHAEL BUBLÉ MAKES ME SOOOOOOO TRUNKYYYYYYYY
- Every single morning this week,
Elder Simonsen and I started off our day with a GIANT (and I mean GIANT) fruit
salad and a small bowl of oatmeal. FRUITS WE ATE THIS WEEK: papaya, pineapple,
oranges, mandarin oranges, bananas, apples, pears, and even raisens. We will be
continuing this tradition. I LOVE COLOMBIA FRUITS
so yeah, this week was cool.
also my comp is really funny. So
he like doesnt know how to cook and we are teaching him and it is precious. He
seems so inocent. WHAT A GREAT KID
also, MAURICIO HAS A BAPTISMAL
DATE!!!!! HE IS THE BEST!!!!
I LOVE YOU ALLLLLLLLLL but for
reals, yo. I for reals do.
ELDER ALEX WILCKEN PRATT
