oh wow i just logged onto blogger to write a post (about what, i don't know) and then this wonderful song came on and now I'm just extremely happy. ha this song is one i grew up listening to. along with jimmy eat world, u2, and the cure; my favorite of my dads favorite bands was counting crows. i remember being in the living room of our hawaii house and singing along. such good days, such good memories. anyways the song is hanginaround by counting crows and it just makes my day feel soo good...so look it up and have yourself a jolly time. 

a testimony

i really dislike having a blog and feel kind of embarrassed to have one, but sometimes it's nice to just type out my feeling/thoughts and put them somewhere.
since i'm leaving in less than a month (ha what ??), i thought it would be good to leave a last entry of something that is important to me. and that is my testimony.

i am thankful for my testimony. for the experiences and trials, the joys and the close to heaven moments that have made it what it is.
i think just like many, it came little by little- trial after trial, prayer after prayer, and verse after verse.
but it came, and when it came, i could not doubt the truthfulness of this gospel and it felt like i was home. like i finally came to know for myself and had reached the first "level" in a sense of my testimony and personal conversion.

first, trials. i am so thankful for them. it has been in these times of trouble where I have turned to my Father in Heaven for guidance and love. He always provides. And where I have leaned on my Savior because I was too weak, and He filled me with His love and peace. trials are so beautiful as they are the one thing that allows us to grow in an eternal way. not only is this life to grow and learn, but so is ETERNITY- and it is through these trials we grow! it is so hard to have faith in these times, but as you turn to our Father with a humble heart and a willingness to put your trust in Him and His plan for you and submit yourself to His will, you will be blessed. Father will always provide a way- He gave us a Savior.

the Book of Mormon is a book of truth. it is filled with all truth and light. it is here where we can receive divine answers we can not find anywhere else. it has provided me with a better understanding of the Goodness of our God and the atonement of our Savior. it is what has led me to ask if this church is true, and if the things written in its pages are true. i promise you that as you read it and have the desire to know for yourself, you will come to know of its truthfulness. and you will come to know the truthfulness of this gospel.

i have been given so much. i have recieved an eternal joy because of the gospel. i have felt the love of my Savior and Heavenly Father. 

This is everything to me.

a year later

久しぶり！

long time no see!

it's officially been over a year since i returned home from my mission and life just continues on i've learned.
my mission means the world to me. it's something that lingers in every thought. something that i never go a day without thinking about. i loved my mission. i still love it!
i think year, i have come to realize that the lord really is in the details of our lives. he has continued to bless, love, teach and help me along my journey. 

as of late

my life is very plain. 

like grandma's greek yogurt.

however, it's a great life!..

...even if im in one of the strangest stages of my life.

four months and two weeks. 

(that's how long i've been home for)

and it's been a veryy slow four months and two weeks.

i don't really have anything of value to report.

sos. (but what's new)(*sarcasm)

my dear friend leah from kansas city is paying me a visit in two weeks.

and that,

is something that is actually of great value to report!

also,

my sweet brother has two and a half transfers of his mission left. (in tokyo japan)

and it really makes no sense.

i think he just left??

japan is on my mind 

every day.

scratch that,

days of when i was a missionary fill my mind 24/7.

and

if anything, 

my heart is filled with so much gratitude for my experience as a missionary.

and even if it's just that, 

it's something that left me better.

it's something i will never be able to put into words.

it's something that keeps me up at night.

it's something that nears the top of the greatest gifts God has given me.

it's something that changed my soul.

if love meant going, 

and going meant coming home,  

it really was all worth it,

because i know my Savior better.
because love is the motive and Christ is the reason

and the price to know Him

is one I would gladly pay. 

home. for now

welp, i'll never truly be able to put into words what my mission meant to me. but here's a go at it

on june 21, 2016 i was set apart as a missionary for the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints. the next day my mission began as I entered the Missionary Training Center. it was a beautiful day. a day i had looked forward to long before i opened my call assignment. and a day I'll always treasure.
the moment i put on my name tag, i was filled with peace. "sister pratt". and below that written was "イエス キリスト", jesus christ in large katakana characters. i was a true representative of my savior, jesus christ. the days following were beautiful. well, everyday following was beautiful really. it's a special thing to have the Savior's name right beside yours and to put on that name tag each morning.
the name "ellie" was long gone and "pratt shimai" took its place. after nine special weeks, fifty of my newly best friends and i boarded a plane to japan, each of us with "イエス キリスト" written on our hearts.
my first area was miyakonojo. my trainer was sister shimauchi.
we slept on futons and ate rice every meal. we prayed on our knees together. we worked hard together. we rode our bikes one behind the other. two by two we went out to share the good news of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

it's been over a month. my heart still breaks.
i've had so much time to think about my mission. it meant so much to me. even if it was shorter than i wanted, it was what i needed. i know God tailors each mission experience perfectly for us. if I never get the change to return, I'll forever be thankful for the experiences the Lord allowed me to have.