Hola All Y'all: November 3rd - Last week in the CCM say whaaaaaaaat?? Alabama, here we come!!!

Oh my goodness, where has the time gone?? I could spend another month or so practicing and preparing for the field, but at the same time I am sooo ready to be outta here hahaha. Not as ready as Elder Granger though, holy cow, he's got field fever something fierce.

Well, one of the hardships this week has been that half our District was sick on Friday/Saturday: one from each companionship, including my companion; but it was all different issues as far as we could tell. No bueno. But, on Sunday, Hma. Conteh and Elder Davenport both got Priesthood blessings for the sick, and they're doing much better now. Our fasts were for our district's health and improvement in Spanish.

Ummm, we've been teaching Ileana and Erika of course still, and I think Hma. Conteh and I have finally found a good groove to teach together in. A bit of a slow learning process on my part. I dominated way too much, whether due to being used to teaching on my own a lot more after Oakcrest, my impatience with her Spanish and my pridefulness about mine, or all the above, were factors. When our 'investigators' asked questions or had concerns, I felt I always knew what they needed and I knew how to say it Spanish, so I would just jump in without giving Hma. Conteh the chance to answer. I definitely have learned a lot about yielding and teaching with unity though. And I thought having the confidence to speak at all was going to be my problem.... Pffff. Wrong again. Also, the lessons with 'Daniel' played by Elder Wilcox have been iffy to say the least. He's committed my role play character to baptism once I learn more and receive an answer about the truthfulness of the church. My lessons with him on the other hand haven't been as direct and useful, I don't think. No matter how eloquent the Spanish, if it's not what they need to hear, it's not going to work. Hence, teaching by the Spirit. Both Elder Wilcox and I are realizing we don't know our characters very well so it's hard to pretend to be them haha.

No, we didn't do anything special for Halloween except for a chocolate frosted cinnamon twisty bread braid thing. Nummy! Still nothing like Halloween though. Haha. Hma. Conteh wore her African style/print dress and decided she was 'cultured' for Halloween, and I told everyone I was Sierra even though I didn't do anything different lol. I got your package on the 29th, and Erik sent me a package as well that arrived yesterday, so I'm totally set with chocolate, cake pops, and Dr. Pepper haha.

Well....I'm going to be on a plane/on my way to Alabama in less than a week. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I'M SIMULTANEOUSLY TERRIFIED AND EXCITED AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING BUT IT'S OK BECAUSE I HAVE A PIECE OF PAPER FROM THE PROPHET THAT SAYS THAT I KNOW STUFF ABOUT JESUS!!!!! xP

*Cue Phineas and Ferb quote* : "Aren't you a little... young... to be preaching the Gospel?" "Yes. Yes we are."

Our devotional last Tuesday was by Elder Nielson of the 1st Quorum of the Seventy, and he talked about being part of the leadership in the Phillipines during that crazy typhoon/tsunami that Riley Andus was in. He and his wife gave fantastic talks and I really enjoyed them. His wife talked about pruning rose bushes and said we'd been pruned: cut off from our friends, family, significant others, cell phones, technology, etc. So true. But, rose bushes have to be pruned in order to reach their beautiful potential, so that's what matters :)

Meow (her fellow Oakcrest counselor) leaves tomorrow after breakfast. *sob* We lost 7A from our zone yesterday. So we're the oldest district for a week. We took pictures yesterday for the farewell slideshow. Yes I will forward them if they've sent them yet or next week.

Well, the Church is still true, the book is still Blue, and God still loves you.

Romans 8:35, 37-39, John 3:15

The next e-mail you will probably get from me (if we don't e-mail on Monday before we leave),I'll be back in the States!!! Alabama, here I come!!!

~Sister Laurel Martin