Transfers, North Salt Lake, UT Sister Howell!

Dearest Pratt Family,

I just want each of you to know that my heart has been changed. I'm so truly grateful for our Heavenly Father and His tender Love. He does not give up on us. He stands by our side. Being transferred into North Salt Lake was a shock to me. Leaving Sister West was hard for her but I know she will grow into the PMG missionary that He wants her to be. It was different having transfers on Tuesday was a bit different, I didn't have much time to pack our say my 'see ya latters' but I know I will for true be back in the Stansbury Park area! Packing all of my things and my comps things into the car was a bit crae but we managed! Just look at the picture! Haha. But I'm so happy that I was willing to accept the call to come into this area. My companion, Sister Howell and I are pink washing (The missionaries in the area before us were transferred out and we have both been put into the area with a new phone, car keys to a 2014 Chevy Cruise, (it has the new car smell and all!) knowing nothing but what is in the Area Book.) I thought are you kidding?! The tender love that Heavenly Father has trusted me with this area lets me know that I do have faith and I am exercising it every single day! We have seen miracles stopping by the investigators home not knowing if we are at the right place and answering their prayers to see them, they have the old cell number. All of the members are into missionary work and I can really say I have felt happy, just like how I was when I started my mission!!! It's the spirit of the Bountiful Zone, having lessons and being surrounded by apostles of the Lord is for true added strength in this Stake/ area! Learning the area with Sister Howell is just so sweet. We are both doing our very best and I'm showing her all the Love I have for her! She needs it; she has a lot of self-worth and doesn't even know it! With all of her allergies it's been hard for her; I know what it's like being sick so I have given her some encouragement... I think! Plus I didn't know how much I say 'I love you Sister Howell' until the other night she thanked me for loving her. One of her comps never showed her that and I guess I do?! How can you not love your comp? I just want the very best for her so I'm going to help her feel Heavenly Fathers love! She sings so well... I sound like a frog in the car going to appointments! But we love it! Our home looks out over a golf course, not a big fan of the sport but I love the open space and the green grass!

My testimony of our savior has grown so very much. On Saturday and Sunday we had Stake Conference and we were able to bear our testimonies... when I sat down I don't even know what I said. The spirit spoke through me and I know I'm to be in North Salt Lake. The members are able to know the joy and happiness we feel every single day they can feel also as they serve with us! As we look at the Christ like attributes in PMG we can grow to become like our Savior Jesus Christ! He is my personal Savior and Redeemer and I am His disciple sharing this message of happiness and His love for us! Pray about someone you can invite to have the missionaries in your area share this message with. You will be blessed and your faith in Jesus Christ will grow!

Love your daughter and little sister,
Sister Sarah Jane Pratt

Ps. Sister Howell is from the Cincinnati area!!!! Shoot, two Buckeyes, you can't get better than that!!!!

Pictures from a Member

It's all about Love and Preach My Gospel.

Dearest Pratt Family,

This week has really been a Preach My Gospel spiritual high! I'm so truly grateful for the resources that we have to learn from and to teach!

Today when I checked my email we got our transfer info and I'm going to North Salt Lake. My heart is a bit heavy right now and I'm wanting to cry...! I love Stansbury Park. I know the Lord knows where I need to be and who I need! I'm happy to be back in the Bountiful Zone.

The tender mercies have been felt all week as Sister West and I have been able to have lessons with members and teaching less active's! On Wednesday we had a Zone Conference which Elder Clark from the 70's was able to speak to us. As we teach as missionaries we learn from Preach My Gospel and read and gain insight from the Book of Mormon! My heart was so full to know of our Heavenly Fathers love for me and so many others this week! Take every opportunity to share the gospel with those around you, blessings are going to come and the Lord will help you open your mouth as what you need to say!

Sister West and I felt like we needed to do something for each of our Bishops and their wives. So we bought some cute flowers (you know me!) and chocolate bars with a cute homemade card I had made for them and delivered them expressing our love and thanks for all that they do! Heck, it felt so totes good to do it! It's all about LOVE!

I'm so sorry this is a short email... it's just I want to cry so badly right now but I'm for true holding them back. West hasn't said a word to me... she is so sad for me to leave. I have grown to love Stansbury Park and Lake Point. It has reminded me of home and I just can't dare to leave it now. But I know that for some reason the people I have met here will be taken care of. That Sister West will grow and learn even more with be being gone from her side. She can take the lead now and do so much! The hymn 'Each Life that Touches Ours for Good' comes to my mind. I know and feel that for some reason I have loved ones that are on the other side of the veil that are helping me not just those that have passed on before me but those that are yet to come into this wonderful world that our Heavenly Father has created just for us. This life is really the time to prepare and that is what I'm doing no matter how hard the mountain is to clime or rugged the terrain may be. I can do Hard things now and I will be able to do hard things later because of these experiences! Peace and joy fill my heart right now! I can feel of your love for me right now. I love each of you so very much! Seek those opportunities to serve others this week!

Love your daughter and little sister,
Sister Sarah Jane Pratt
Love you lots!

Love comes back.

Dearest Pratt Family,
 
Looking at my planner I thought to myself, 'It seemed like every day was super hard and I was on the struggle bus'... yet looking at it now and reviewing all that happened, I thought, 'what an amazing totes super awesome week Sister West and I had!' In the moment of trials we can't or just are unwilling to see the big picture that Heavenly Father has for us. (I'll have to send you my picture I drew of this week in the mail! I think it's totes cute!)

Monday, I felt so down but was excited to wear my blue jeans and a cute blouse...! Haha. I know it sounds silly, but shoot, I haven't worn them in a while and it felt so good to wear them! At our preparation day activity I just sat on the grass watching the Elders and Sisters play Football, and looking up every now and then and seeing a really good play and just laughing as I wrote some letters! We had dinner at the Lambert's and my stomach was totes no bueno... we had a lesson that evening with a less active young woman. I'm just so grateful for the strong support I had when I was in Young Women's with my leaders! I really do love them still! (Aunt Gayle, Crystal, Sister Dunford, Sister Maughn, Sister Sworden, Sister Sauber, Sister Morris, Marsha Allen and all the other Sister Allen’s!) This girl was lost and couldn't feel of our Saviors love, her heart was closed. We invited her to pray that week and we would check back with her.

My stomach was still killing me...

Tuesday, there is a reason for all things. We all have a down day but I smile for real! We were able to have a little short lesson with Jordan and his two brothers they are 8 and under so their eyes and ears lose track... if you know what I mean. Haha. The spirit was felt and that evening we had a great time at dinner with the Peterson's. He went out hunting for the week and told us all about the Elk and such. It has been getting cooler I'd say and my nose is cold all the time! It was a joy to have Sister Condie come out with us on a visit to her neighbors! She and her husband just came home from their mission in CO. I just love it when members are involved!

Wednesday, talk about tender mercies all day long. Sister West and I haven't had like any referrals so we have been visiting lots of members and getting to know them better. But this day was just amazing our highest, 5 less active lessons!!!! So wonderful as we were able to give Jordan a Book Of Mormon Story Book! Nadine and Mark are still struggling for some reason, but when you are living in sin then no wonder. You can't feel the spirit much. Damian was outside with his friends playing in the water in the street. (The PW area has been building like a super a lot of homes really fast and so there was water running off the side, perfect for playing in, right?! Nasty) Then seeing Shaylee outside cleaning her garage a bit, chatted with her! We were able to talk to Cameron and his friend and shoot he shared a wonderful testimony!

Thursday, we have met with Keller; she is less active and wanting to come back to church and wants us to teach her and her boyfriend! We had a movie night with Jamie and Rob! It was totes fun watching the Restoration DVD!!! Loved it! We are going back this week to finish it! Happy Day!  

Friday, District meeting was wonderful all about members getting involved in the work! No tracking means we need the members help... A LOT!!!! We were able to have dinner with this wonderful family in the SL ward and they are a part member Family. It was just wonderful putting in little spiritual moments and enjoying getting to know the family. Their son is out on a mission now and their daughter just decided to serve too! How wonderful is that?!!?! We left our card, mormon.org card!!! ;) and told them they should look at the site! Wink, wink!

Saturday, was just crae! We helped with a funeral and shoot, it was like I was back at the Barn bringing out food.... totes miss doing that! I loved talking to the different family members and cheering them up! It made me feel so happy to talk about how our Heavenly Father loves us and knowing we can return back to Him!

Sunday, was just wonderful! The spirit was just so super amazing!!! We planned for where we needed to be and it was so what I needed! These are just some of my thoughts from the day!

There is a way to Reach human hearts, and it is your business to find the way to the <3's of those to whom you are called. -Lorenzo Snow

Truly feeling the balm of Gillian.

As the sacrament was being passed around I thought how exciting it is for all of these people to be here! I can just imagine all of them getting baptized again!

Our greatest example is the one that obeyed His Father, Jesus Christ.

'For courage to accept thy will, to listen and obey' When we do all that He has asked us to do then He will bless us!

I know that as we continue on the path of righteousness we will be able to feel of His love. Love will fill our hearts and our fears will diminish for a time. We will be able to stand firm in our faith knowing He is there to give us help and comfort us. Love really does come back when we open our hearts to receive it! In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Love your daughter and little sister,
Sister Sarah Jane Pratt

Ps. This is all we have of Fall... not too fun but I just had to take a cute picture of it!
Our district, E!
Oh hey! We have to have some kind of fun!!! It's been nearly two years (well almost a year!!!! YEAH!!!!)

Live by Faith.

Dearest Pratt Family,

This week has just been amazing and I have felt so much love from our Heavenly Father. All the people we have talked to this past week have been LA's but what a joy it has been. Plus to know that people are put into our paths for a reason. I am working on understanding the Atonement a bit more but there is so much and only so many tears I can cry at once. But how great is my joy knowing that sometimes we have to just, 'let it go!' Janny Feeling the spirit prompt Sister West and I have had and then acting on them has brought a lot of blessings!

Conference really opens the windows to Heaven. We were able to go to the last session of Conference with some LA. And out of nowhere Abigail gives me a hug! Oh, I didn't want to let go of her hug! All I could do was smile! I'm so happy for her and Nate, I didn't even think of seeing her ring! Haha. But she is so pretty! The spirit was so strong at conference! My prayers were answered as Elder Holland spoke. A dear member texted this to me, 'For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son. And he so loved Sarah Jane Pratt that he also sent Elder Holland :-)'  I need to use the Atonement a lot more! He knows and understands. Even with my weaknesses and issues/ problems that have come up being on a mission, I know I'm able to overcome them through the Atonement. What a happy day the resurrection will be when our minds and body will be in perfect form! I have been so very patient and it's sometimes hard but we just have to find joy in the journey! I just cried! I feel so blessed to be one of His servants at this time in my life and in the world! Being an influence for good!

Despite our numbers being lower this week, Sister West and I prayed about two families in each ward to have us teach a LA or Nonmember in their home. The spirit was just so strong when we invited them to pray about who and we are going to follow-up! The Graves Family and the Hill Family! I love working with the members and getting them excited! I would have to say I smile a lot more and I'm so glad that Heavenly Father has helped me see and feel the happiness of His gospel! How blessed we are to have the gospel in our lives!

We had a zone meeting and it was totes amazing to know how much we need to be prepared and work together as a team! We played dodge ball! Crae, crae! We can be on plan- complete missionaries! It was just amazing to see all the people on date to be baptized in our Zone! Totes happy! Sister West and I are working to find and put someone on date!

I love you all and thought of you at conference, the family choir! Amazing! I just love missionary work and know that it can't go forward without the members working with the missionaries! Go Team! Go fight, win, BAPTIZE!

Love your daughter and little sister,
Sister Sarah Jane Pratt

Ps. Pictures:
1. Monday dinner at the Lambert's!
2. Zone Dodge Ball!
3. An evening on the bike! We have seen this bike in one of the church parking lots and we were like shoot, lets ride it!... It had a flat tire so we did a cute photo shoot! Love!

Waiting for the good thing that happened today.

Dearest Pratt Family,

I'm so happy for all that has happened this week, good and bad in Stansbury Park. I read your emails already and I have gotten your letters that you have sent to me along with a few friends that wrote me this week too and it is such a joy to feel of your love and support. To know that you are all doing well despite all the change that has occurred and crae cold weather! Ha. So I'll just start from the top!

Mondays are just a joy to have. It was a blessing to have Sister Wardel invite Sister West and I to make General Conference Journals....scrapbooking!!! My comfort zone that made me have a warm fuzzy all day! Then we played football as a Zone. Shoot, I'm like totes good at it! All of the Elders love us Sisters and our District is so good! I ran and was like, so out of shape I have gained like 10 lbs......no bueno! Dinner at the Lambert's was just wonderful as always! The love they have in their home is just so tender. Then to have a FHE with Patrick and his boys was so cute! They loved the 10 commandments and the hand motions! ;)

Tuesday, we have been really working with less actives in the four wards we cover and it's just really difficult. But we were able to have a great lesson with a husband and wife; she wants to stop smoking for her husband and not for herself. He almost cried in front of us and it was a bit hard to listen to them talk about why she isn't ready to stop smoking....she doesn't want to go through the motions and go to the temple to then go right back to her old habit. Wow. I had to give it to her. So true. Her husband needs to just be patient....it's hard but totes worth it! Then that evening Patrick's lesson was so good, the Bishop was bale to be in on the lesson and it is so joyful to see the family doing this together! That evening we went on exchanges with the Sister Training Leader. She has only been out two weeks and Sister Burns was a but nervous but she is totes great!

Wednesday morning was wonderful and Sister Burns had planning and study all under control in the Tooele area! We had a service project that morning and it was a tender moment of reflection for me. The sister's husband was out of town for work and needed to get her yard weeded....when I looked to see the weeds, they were taller than me, and that's saying a lot!!! Haha. Where the heck do we start, so I just went at it! (Mind you the sisters didn't tell me we were doing service so I totes wore my pjs!!! Hahahahahaha. Oh it is too funny even thinking about it!) As we continued to weed the Elders in their district helped too, the ground was a bit hard but the clouds looked like it was going to rain. Oh no I thought! Totes not cool, weeding in the rain?!!?! As the rain had a constant flow it loosened the soil and the weeds were easier to pull up. For some reason my thoughts went back to when I would wake up on a Saturday morning looking out of the kitchen windows seeing dad work outside on the fences for the lambs or back in the North 40 in the wood pile and it would be raining. Tears came to my eyes being so full of gratitude for the love and devotion he has for our family to continue to work hard despite of the rain and hard times that have come to our family. I stood up and no longer cared about what I looked like or how my hands felt hurting from the big weed stocks, I smiled and sang, 'When we're helping we're happy and we'll sing as we go!' It was amazing to talk about the gospel to the Elders and help them see all the joy that comes from hard work and lessons we are able to learn.

All that day Sister Burns and I experienced miracles as she looked at what roads to go down, being unfamiliar with the area, the spirit was able to tell me good things would happen that day with her strong testimony. Sure enough I would lock the keys in the car as we went to a sister's referral (For some reason I had my camera in my hands and Sister Burns had the cell, totes a good thing!) and we had to walk 15 minutes to our dinner appointment! Haha. It was so much fun! It all worked out getting it unlocked and going on for the evening. Heavenly Father had a plan for his children.....I saw a lady on her step and so I pulled over and rolled down the window and started to talk to her! Well Amanda needed us and we said a prayer and left. Sister Haddock texted us the next day after exchanges and said, 'Sister Pratt, thanks for taking care of my companion yesterday. You saw all the people I'd been worrying about and I know it's because you were inspired. Thank you so much!' It was so sweet to hear. This whole week it has felt like I have made no impact and the negative thoughts from Salt Lake City have come back into my head and have held me down. But that was amazing to hear from the sisters!

Thursday was a down day, but we were able to practice our song for Patrick's baptism!!! Then have our lesson that night on Lesson 2 at the Lambert's! Sister West was inspired that morning to talk to me about the boys having a testimony. I told her she needed to ask them and explain what a testimony is. So good she did, Dallis said he didn't want to be baptized.....WHAT??? Patrick was hit in the side but I knew that I had to talk to Dallis one on one and looked him in the eyes and told him, 'No matter what decisions you make, know that Sister Pratt loves you! and your Heavenly Father still does and your family!' I challenged him to pray about knowing if what we talked about was right and being baptized...We said lots of prayers that night, us four sisters!

Friday we had District meeting which was amazing! Elder Taylor is wonderful and we need to work with the members. We are treating them like investigators now. They need to know how to talk and teach their friends the gospel! We were able to leave and the Zone Leader's put a sticky on our car, 'Your front right tire is totes flat!' Elder Olsen is funny! They changed it for us! All is well, I just love Sister West and the people here way too much and want the best for them! We got a text from Patrick that afternoon and Dallis is back on date! Happy day. We had all four of their interviews that evening and the Lambert's got them each their own set of scriptures with their name on it! Then as we were waiting, played some bball! Totes the best thing ever in a skirt! Ha.

Saturday was a tender joy to have President Child and all of Patrick's family and friends at his baptism! It was so quiet and for true felt like the temple! Oh what love was there! As we sang our song I couldn't get the 2nd Soprano note so I just stopped singing....them picked it back up. I had prayed that if I couldn't get the note, then please have the spirit cover it up. Sure thing, the spirit filled everyone and it was amazing! It was amazing to see one by one each of them enter into the font and be washed clean, you don't even notice Patrick's tattoos! He has felt of His love and is a changed man. After the baptism he gave us a side hug (It was totes worth it!) and said, 'You saved me!' Tear.

I was able to go to Cold Stone and eat my fav, Founders Favorite!!!!! Chocolate!!!!! It was odd but so good!

Sunday was tender as I was able to fast for our wards and for West and I to teach in members homes and for me to use the atonement and continue to push forward in life having Hope and faith! President Hansen was at the Confirmation of the boys and again the spirit was so strong, each of their blessings were so special! They will be wonderful missionaries and leader of the church!

Today, Sister Hill was able to take us to the temple! The peace and joy filled my heart as I know what I am to do here and will be an influence on others for good! I knew the face when I saw it, Sister Wixom walked in and I wanted to hug her but didn't. So before we left....she talked to me and gave me a hug! I told her about mom and since you were a convert you didn't know the primary songs so you made sure we knew them.....'I am like a star shining brightly.....' Tears filled my eyes as I felt her love and Heavenly Fathers love! I know my Savior lives! Sister West and I will be going to the Sunday evening session of General Conference!!!! Happy day! Elder Olsen had asked me to text him and his companion every day of a good thing that has happened! I'm so grateful for all the love and support around me!

Love your daughter and little sister,
Sister Sarah Jane Pratt