Sorry this week is so short but here is a little thing for this week!

1 Blessing: A Savior Is Born!!!

1 Lesson Learned: Live in the moment and do all I know is asked and then some! never stop trying my Best!

1 Thing to Improve: Striving to live a Christ-centered life, which requires FAITH, VIRTUE, TEMPERANCE, BROTHERLY KINDNESS, GODLINESS AND CHARITY!!!

This week give yourself TIME to THINK about the BABY in the MANGER and what it means for you...

I love you all!

May your Christmas filled with lots of good memories and be at peace!!!

Posing with our Gingerbread Missionaries...so cute!

Shopping at the Mall

Out driving in Sunny Ca. weather

Look....It's MY "Angel's" Street

Selfie Sunday Y'all!

Holy Moly...Our investigators got us Christmas Presents!!!  

Our First presents under the Tree :)

Way too excited to wait...Look what I got...I wonder if they think we stink??? lol

Sis. Larson was super excited as well!!!  A very special day for us

Back at the Dr.'s again :-(...I just want to be better and 100% back to ME!!!

Awe...I got my package from Mommy today and she sent me a
nativity from home...I was so happy to get this box!!!

An Angel for My ANGEL!!!  

You have no IDEA how EXCITED I was to open these BEAUTIES!!!
MUSIC from Momma~

I had to send this pic home for Mom.
Can you believe how HUGE it is??? I thought it looked
pretty cool.  Merry Christmas Y'all!

Why are the Holidays so MERRY???

Sorry you guys its been a while and I apologize for that this last couple of weeks have just been crazy! To my Home Ward Stevens Creek I love you all and getting your letters meant the world to me!! I love you and miss all of you and Ca could never compete with Y'all!!!

Okay onto the letter! First off I have had the most amazing and humbling experiences these last few weeks! I love that this time of year people come together and they are all just happier! Wouldn't that be great if it was Christmas all year round? Why cant it be? I am sure that my mother would just love it if she could keep her decorations up all year round and Hey I wouldn't complain either! But as I heard the sister Missionaries helped my mom with our Christmas stuff I felt so super home sick and The best medicine that fixes any and everything is Service! So that is exactly what I did I signed my companion and I up for as much service as I could find and boy did it help! I got closer with my ward and learned lots of cool things and I just felt happy! I think this time of year we tend to notice those that have less than we do and those who have lost a loved one because this is the time to be celebrating with our loved ones... I have to say that the church videos that come out each year for Christmas are just divine! They show the focus of this season and they have wonderful ways of making it central on Jesus Christ and how he was the greatest gift we could have ever received. We have been asking  people that we share this video with "Why is it important to YOU that a Savior was born?" and I just love waiting for the answers and probably one of the best answers I have heard was from one of our investigators Daughter she said simply " He is everything he is how I find peace and He is how I feel Joy. No matter how far I drift away from Him it is never to far for his reach." Wow!!!! Am I right? this is how we have the Holiday cheer all year round people! We remember that Jesus Christ Overcame two obstacles that we could never have overcome Spiritual and Physical Death. Guess what we are all able to be Resurrected any one and everyone who has received a body gets to be Resurrected. no catch! But when it comes to our spiritual death how do we over come that? We  Simply  Follow his example live the way he has shown! we got it really easy and when I say easy I mean he has already shown us what to do does that mean it will be easy? no way But it is Simple. I promise! Try it out this year lets see just how long after the holidays we can keep that cheer! I love you all so very much and I miss you dearly! I wish all of you a wonderful Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Please know my prayers are with all of you and you are all in my thoughts this very strange but beautiful Christmas this year!         

Some word of the wise! 1 dont step on crunchy leaves at night you will find dog poop by accident I promise! 2 if you are talking to someone and petting their dog ignor the person and keep Eye contact with the dog or he will pee on your shoe #Warmtoes! 3 if you think it might rain bring a jacket even if the locals say El Nino isnt coming ... because it will come! and 4 if your companion jokes about you getting a TIWI dont challenge God and say Yeah right like thats going to happen or I wish they would because they will! I love you and have a safe week!!!
--  

Sincerely Sister Prather

My beautiful Angel Pie in her Apartment!!!

Sweet Sisters Tracking during the daytime :-)

Dusk is upon them...Long day but well worth it!!!

Say Cheese!!!  Beautiful smiles from our Beautiful Women!!! 

Our Tree!!!!

So Happy we have a tree!!!  Our hard work paid off...
Mom will be even more excited then me I can promise that!!!  LOL

San Marcos at Christmas!

Angel is doing well & still slowly recovering...I spoke with her Sweet President Kendrick yesterday and he said he was going to check on her and will give me another update this Friday on her progression.  I found out she also has a back injury on top of things and might have a pinched nerve.  He is pretty confident she will be able to recover there and she is doing her best at all times as you can see.  She is full of life and happier than I've ever seen her.  She loves serving the Lord with all her Heart, Might, Mind, and Strength.  We are so proud of her and all the work she is doing.

Here are some great pics 📷 for this week since time was not in her favor! Lol.  They were super blessed to get a tree w/all the trimmings after helping tons of elderly folks with preparing & getting ready for Christmas and putting up their trees & decorations!!!  A gift to them was to get a tree with all the trimmings for their little apartment.  Super Happy for her.

Ok...So there are two kinds of people
here in SoCal...This kind...

And this kind....I can tell you what one is going to be
my Mom's Favorite...LOL  (I love this pic of her!!!)

It takes 5 pictures just to get the whole house...
Holy-Moly...This is Griswald at it's finest...LOL

Transfer week!!!

Well this won't be my typical letter as its been a crazy week & I don't have a lot of time, sorry folks!  Let me start out with, "Yes, I am doing better, it will just take some time & im hoping now to stay out of the hospital & Dr. Office...lol!!!"   Sorry if I worried anyone but I'll be ok.  We had a great Thanksgiving and I hope y'all did too!  We had a ton of miracles & blessings this last week and we have lots of investigators at the moment!!! (It's so exciting)
Mom told me about the "Just Serve" you are doing there and well that's pretty much all we do here everyday & I've learned to love it & love service !!!  Im sorry this is so short but also, FYI  I'll be here another 6 weeks cause we don't transfer tomorrow!!!  So glad I'll be staying here in San Marcos,  I love these guys here & there's lots of work to do!  More in my next letter...love n miss everyone like crazy!!! Only 25 more days!!!!!!!

Love Sister Prather

Faith vs. Hope

In the scriptures its says it talks alot about Faith and Hope and if you have this enormous amount of Faith then great things will happen. Now I dont know about the rest of you but I always had trouble figuring out what the heck the Difference is between them.... In Primary we learn the song "faith is like a little seed if planted it will grow. faith is a swelling within your heart when I do right I know!" that's great and all but it still doesn't help me! so I decided to ask in one of my Zone training meetings thinking I was the only Missionary that needed help with this distinction and I got answers like "Faith is an Action word" and "Well they are pretty much the same." and just answers you would hear in Seminary (so all of those of you who think that Missionaries have this bank of knowledge sorry to burst that perseption for ya) But they werent really helpful because I could hope that I would walk on water I think that would be the coolest thing ever .. but do I have the faith that I will thats what I wanted to know How do I know that I have the faith enough for miracles?? So I decided I was just going to studdy harder than I had before in my life because Our investigator wanted to know the difference as well. I remember when I had this question with my trainor and she chuckled and said it will be a good study I think she studied it for like a week if not longer. So I grabbed my scriptures and my PMG and I just tore into it I prayed like crazy before hand and all through out studding. I came to the scripture Alma 32:21. And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true. And this didnt really help me because it says its the same thing.... so in PMG in Christ Like attributes under Hope it says "Hope is an abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promises to you." so Hope is Trusting the Lord!!!! Okay now we are getting somewhere. When we have Hope in something We are Trusting in the Lord to give us those promises and then we are lead to act... Through those actions we are showing Faith because we are more then just trusting we know... But wait what about that scripture about the perfect Knowledge thing? Alma 32:34" And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea,your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand." BOOM! Faith is Knowledge in the things that we hoped for! and we show our Faith by acting or doing that which the Lord would have us do. lets take a for instance with me and the Atonement. I Hoped that the Atonement would work for me so then trusting the Lord that I would be forgiven I act in faith and I ask for Forgiveness then When I receive that Forgiveness I have a Perfect Knowledge that the Atonement always works! I know its just a little thing but it shows the principle! I love you all so much and I cant wait until next week! Happy Thanksgiving! 

--
Sincerely Sister Prather

Pics in San Marcos & Conference

Me & Sis. Larson Hanging out!

Me & Sis. Larson in our Apartment

Me & my buddies from Carslbad area being goofy~

Me & Sis. Cartenza at Elder Grow (from the 70) Conference

Bundled up trying to keep warm...I am FREEZING
 in CALIFORNIA of all places...lol

Taking a pic at Elder Grow's conference with some awesome Elders!!!

A beautiful ranch with horses in my new area in San Marcos!

Sending Kisses to my Momma!!!  Miss her tons~

More kisses from your Angel~

Simply Beautiful in her Apartment!
(Look at her GLOWING)

Winter What???!!!?!?!?!??

Okay so Just a little Fyi I hate the cold I don't know Why I wanted to go to Russia that was dumb! This week was absolutely Amazing! We had Elder Grow from the 70 come and talk to us at our Zone conference Meeting and that blew my mind We talked about so many great things and I wish I could recount them all to you but I am not that skilled. At one point he had asked us if any of us had been inactive in our lives so a lot of us rose our hands and he went around and asked people why and what brought them back to the church and why are they out on a mission! and at first I didn't want to share at all cause I was embarrassed but while I was listening to all of these stories The common factor was Missionaries which got me thinking about the wonderful Sister Missionaries who I drew so close with and I realized that it was a huge pattern all of these current missionaries were here one way or another because of an influence of Missionaries. Now I understand that this is not the case for all people who go inactive and then decide that they want to serve a mission but it was a big factor in the group that I was with! Elder Grow talked about his converts and how he wanted to know that if any of his families went inactive that there would be a missionary that would care enough about them to help them. and how we would want the same. It made me very appreciative of "My missionaries" and ALL Missionaries. This week I was blessed with the opportunity to have one of our Investigators ask us to be baptized. She came to it all on her own and she told us straight up "I want to be baptized!" I don't know what she said after that because I had passed out but it was so amazing to me to feel that genuine desire and love for something she wanted and How much I realized I really dont do anything our lessons were never perfect they were never what we planned but they were what she needed. I am just so thankful that I got the chance to be a part of something like that! Sorry this email is so scatter Brained but if you know me you will be fine its easier then trying to follow a conversation! So Some funny things that happened this week! While I was reading Power of Everyday Missionary I had finally realized that Parable meant made up..... which means the good samaritan and the prodigal son were all fake.... I was pretty messed up over it! I fell of my bike at an intersection. I tried telling someone that I spoke American but I really meant to say English. Oh And me and sister Larsen bought the best invention ever GLOVES!  It really isnt that cold but when its raining and you are on bikes its flippen Freezing! Well thats all for this week I love you guys so much And I love this Gospel more than air I really can not put into words just how much I love being a missionary!

Pics of Temple and new area

Me and Emily having dessert!!! She is the BEST EVER...

Emily giving me some love...

Say Cheese!!!
(Emily is the sweetest Angel that sends me pics
of my Angel when I seem to need it the most!!!)
I can't wait to finally meet her and give her a big hug as well~

Nothing better then going to the House of the Lord!!!

San Diego Temple with My new companion
Sis. Larson next to me!!!!

LOOK WHAT I FOUND!!!
AUGUSTA Drive... Missing home...

Taking a well needed load off...LOL

Holy Shift!!!

Hello There,

So as most of you know I am in a new area where I have to ride bikes.... well I probably should have already known this but when you are riding up hills you have to shift to the lower gears so that you don't kill yourself! Well no one told me! so I was out of commission for a day and a half cause I did something seriously wonky to my Knee. as I was thinking about how dumb I felt about not switching gears and doing 6 up a pretty huge hill I thought of how many times we do something like that in our day to day lives! How many moms still try to do the things they did before when they were young when they have kids and get burnt out? How many missionaries Try being and living the same way they did before their missions and end up not being able to handle the requirements and the tasks at hand....? I got put into a new area and I had a terrible time my first week but only because I wanted it to be exactly like my last area.... dumb! Yesterday in Relief Society the lesson was over "WE NEED Woman WHO:" and one of those things were learn how to laugh when things go wrong. What really hit me is when they read the story that Pres. Uchtdorf gave in women's conference and I realized that I was Eva who Absolutely Positively did NOT want to go to great aunt rose house and I really had to reflect on myself Because last Monday my mom and Aunt had told me the same thing Be my self and things will be okay.. I had heard all of that before But I felt pressure to be as goo as my last companion or my new companions last companion I felt like I had to change my whole self to be good in this new area... But it took a pretty cool Elder telling me to get over my self and I am here for a reason. That I have something that ONLY I could bring to this area and there is someone waiting for Me specifically and that if God wanted the same Missionary in each place We wouldn't be moved and God would only call the same people. But he doesn't and we each have a reason as to why we are here! So I decided I would change my attitude and it really did help! I had the wonderful opportunity to go to the House of the Lord and even when I went there my attitude was different I shifted Gears in my ways of thinking feeling and responding! I have never gotten so much out a temple trip as I did this last one! Then a couple days later I got so sick Like unreasonably sick for no reason.. And I woke up at like 5:30 pm and The spirit told me to go out side and Go on a walk... I thought that it was stupid I was still in my PJ's but fine I'll do it so I woke up my companion who was also not feeling well we walked out of our apartment and Lo and Behold the YSA (Young Single Adult) Elders in my new area were standing out side of our apartment complex looking at me Side way And I thought to my self AWESOME! Now I never have to wear Make up in front of them EVER again. They asked me what was wrong and I had told them and They asked if I wanted a blessing I said Of coarse but where are we gonna do it you cant come into our Apt and We don't have a car to drive any where... Then they told us we had a member live in our same neighborhood we could give it there.... I asked them if I had to put real clothes on and if I didn't have to that I would go lol. So we walk to this members house and he invites us in and in my blessing it was said that the reason of me being sick was to bless me and Protect me and My companion because something that we planned was going to put us in Harms way! I instantly knew what it was and I just felt more peace... While I was sick I felt like it was okay which was weird because no one is really happy when they are sick but I felt peace and then I understood why! That night I was able to have Dinner with a member in my PJ's How many Missionaries can say that!? Well sorry this week was so scattered but it was a good one!!! I love you guys very Much and cant wait to hear from Y'all!!!   

Sincerely,  Sister Prather

Zone Activity in "Twin Oaks Valley"

Zone Activity 

with my new Companion in 

"Twin Oaks Valley, San Marcos, California"

I'm in Pink in front (your left) and my companion is next
to me on my right (your left) in Black t-shirt.  She
is super Tall compared to me for sure!!!  But she is awesome!!!
Sis. Larson & Sis. Prather at Zone Activity

Transfers happened!!!

She has officially transferred to "Twin Oaks Valley" in San Marcos, California!!!  She is now in a Bike mission and had to say goodbye to the car she was comfortable driving in...lol...After she bought her bike everyone told her, "Oh, dear that's the worse one you could have chose, I am so sorry for you!"  Soooooooo, I have a strange feeling I'm gonna have to be getting a new bike again in a few months?  I'm not sure where Twin Oaks Valley is or if that is her new Ward, or what it is like other than she has reported she is no longer by the Ocean and she misses it so very much!!!  She said it is definitely inland and super ugly compared to the Ocean side of things...lol...Her New Companion is Sis. Larsen!  I'm glad it's winter so we shouldn't have to worry so much about fires right now?  She is missing Sister Forsyth dearly as I knew she would, but I know in time she will continue going forward as we all have to and get into her niche soon enough.  I can't wait to hear the funny stories that will start coming forth with her new companion so to start off her is one...  

I have one story to share for this week...
She said that, "While I was out I contacted a drunk Mexican man and I did my best to contact in Spanish but it didn't go so well and Lord only knows what I actually said...lol...so anyways he felt bad for me I think and tried giving me a huge hug and it lets just say it was super wierd!!!  Hahaha...Well more to come in the upcoming weeks as we get to know our new area.  Take care and I Love all of Y'all and I'm missin' yous like CRAZY!!!  I gtg "time is up!" UGH...until next time say safe and be good!
Love Sis. Angellica Prather

Will I live to 100 years old?

Hi Mom,

 Sorry this is so short...I am really worried mom...I found that transfers are next week and I really don't want Sis. Forsyth to leave.  Even though I know its her time to go home spending 86 days together and bonding is not going to be easy to say good-bye!   She has been so amazing with all she has taught me and I also found out I am going to be TRAINING someone new!!!  With that said, that wouldn't be so bad/hard if I was staying in this area, however I also found out that I am White-Washing into my new area (that means I am getting sent to a brand new area that neither me nor my companion know anything about it and have to learn and grow together to understand it and experience it) and I am so freaking out!!!  I can't believe I am ready for this because I don't feel like I am.  I am glad Heavenly Father knows better then me I guess I need to have more faith and believe it myself....
Maybe that is what I'm supposed to feel to stay humble?  I know I will get through it somehow but it just really stinks.  Our baptism was also cancelled...she wasn't ready and I understand, but it was still disappointing for us.  We have planted many seeds and the work is true and will continue to go forward.  Hope to have lots more for you next time!!!

So I met a man this week who is 100 years old is well on his way to 101 years in February.   He was the sweetest old man and He was smart as a whip! He is sharing with me his life story that was made into a scrapbook from the day he was born all the way to his 80th Birthday! He served in the war and talked to me about what it was like over in Germany He was sooo cool! 
 I was on Splits with Sis. Edgecomb and she was so amazing!!!  I just love her so much. We fell in love with this gentleman so very much...I could have listened to him all day!!!    You would love it here!!!
All my love,

Love, Sis. Angellica Prather

He was reading us his bio out of his special book on his lap.

Sis. Edgecomb is the sweetest companion ever!!!
Had such a great day!!!

I want to adopt him for my Grandpa!!!  hahaha
He was so sweet and sharp!!!

We Had "A HUGE MIRACLE" today!!!

Mom,

You aren't gonna believe this but we totally had our groceries bought for us today to last us a whole month!!!  I love getting these kind of blessings and seeing how loved we are by our ward families!!! I'm sure this will make things a bit easier for them this month...Thanks Heavenly Father for looking after my baby girl...

Gtg...Love Sis. Prather

P.S. Here is a Picture of Br. Jason Nielson that bought us our groceries...Holy Cow!!!  Coolest ever right???

Legoland Pictures

LEGOLAND!!!  We had a blast...Can you tell???

I made it to Legoland and lived to tell about it~!!!

Yay!!!

Having a blast!!!  

Look Mom...I still get picked up while on my mission...
even if it is Rico-Lego man...hahaha!!!

It's Lego-Ninja....Watch out or Sis. 4 and I
 just might Karate Chop you in 1/2...hahaha

Who don't love the Merry-Go-Round!!!
To be a kid again...(well for a day) 

Waiting in line for our next adventure...

On the Roller Coaster...My favorite part of any PARK!!!

We were so brave we had our hands up!!! YAY...

We are a spiritual force to be
 reckoned with...lol...Watch out California

My Beautiful Girl!!!

This guy let me take a picture with him!

This place was so much fun!!!

Look mom...I'm inside the Lions Mouth!!!  hahaha

We love pics...more importantly Mom's love pics...Say Cheese!!!

Pic by the pond on a bridge...

Sis. 4 & I in front of King Triton!!!  Love this place...

Elder Kindmark and I tore up the Teacups and made
Sis. Forsyth sooooo sick...She was such a Grandma...LOL

We got to put our feet into a Pool!!!  What...What...
I don't ever wanna leave this place..hahaha