week 8

¡Hola Familia!

¿Como Est´´an?

I have but one week left here in the MTC. It's crazy!!! I will be flying out on Monday, Oct 17th, fairly early in the morning. There will be 16 missionaries in my group, so that will be fun to travel with them all! 4 others in my district will also be leaving that day, one tuesday, and the other two wednesday. I'm going to miss them all! Only one of the elders will be coming with me to Toronto.

I am scared but excited. I can't wait to meet my mission president and his wife, Pres. and Sister Scott, and there's only so much I can do here without getting out there and do the real thing. I'm giong to strive to do all I can to be as prepared as I can this week. There's so much to do!

The weather has certainly taken a turn for the colder this week. I'm grateful for my raincoat with it's wool liner and my scarf! I'm a little aprehensive of Toronto because of it, though. It's going to be even colder! But I'll learn the ways to keep warm soon enough.

The fireside was wonderful last night. One thing the brethren want to do to help retain new members is be sure they commit to paying their tithing consistantly, so the Admin. person of the MTC spoke to us last night all about tithing. I really enjoyed it. There are great promises that come with paying it: spiritual strength especially, increased faith as we exercise it, and many other blessings that He will pour out that there be not room enough to receive it! (Mal 3:10--one of my favorites!)

There was another scripture I just loved as I read in the Book of Mormon this week. It's in Alma 32, verse 16. Alma is talking to the Zoramites about humility and the way he defined humility was just really clear to me in this verse. He said that humility is acting "without stubborness of heart." the example he gave was baptism but it's a lot more. It's when we do the Lord's will--what the spirit prompts or the handbook lays out. It's obeying the words of the prophets without saying "it's a hard thig you've required of us!" but willingly, quickly doing (as one of the 70 said during GC) the right thing at the right time. Don't sit and stew, go and do!

I have learned so much here at the MTC. My teachers have been wonderful and I've had many teaching opportunities. I loved getting to sing with the choir for devotionals. I love the Lord. I know He lives. I know we have a LOVING Heavenly Father. He prepared a way for us to return to Him through His Son Jesus Christ. He is our Savior and Redeemer. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet and that through an unbroken line of Priesthood authority Thomas S. Monson is the prophet today on the earth. Jesus Christ leads His church through him. I love this work and can't wait to tell everyone in Toronto about it!!!

I hope you all have a great week and please keep in touch! I love letters! (use my mission home address starting next week)

I love you all!

Sincerely,

Hna. Cottam