Do you love me?

Dearest family,

Oh, it was a wonderful conference weekend!

My favorite talks were Elder Holland's, Pres. Monson's and Elder Bednar's. Especially Elder Holland. It is so true that if we love the Lord, really love Him, we will turn to our fellowmen and serve them as He wills. And I loved how Pres. Monson talked about something so simple yet so important: hearkening to the whisperings of the spirit. It is so critical in this work. And Elder Bednar talking about testimony and conversion. It's something I've been wondering about lately so I was excited to hear about it :)

Chris has been set back in his date due to health problems, but Alex is continuing to progress. He was unable to come to conference because of work but we have an appointment on wednesday and he continues to read and pray. We also found two new investigators who accepted to be baptized in our very own building on Sunday night! (well, Hna. Sundblom and Hna. Camejo did :) We had a wonderful exchange sunday night and monday. Hna. Camejo went with Hna. Sundblom in our area and I went with Hna. Varley in their area (my old area down south ;). It went really well and we had a wonderful Thanksgiving (ya, if you didn't know, it was Thanksgiving yesterday :). We visited two of their investigators and a member family. That member family has been one of my favorites as I have served in Black Creek--the Lopez family. I was so grateful to be able to spend a part of Thanksgiving with them. I love them so much. They are so strong in the gospel and radiate the spirit. They've been members for about 3-4 years but they have embraced it and are such wonderful examples of faith. My heart was full of joy to be with them one more time to share a meal with them--spiritually as well as physically. Oh, I love them.

As I listened to Elder Holland I imagined the Lord asking me, "Hna. Cottam, do you love me? Feed My sheep." I love the Lord and am learning to love His sheep, every last one of them. I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve a mission and am so excited for all those who will get to serve sooner! I have grown to love this eternal work and love being a missionary, even though it's really hard. I love it. And I will ever be changed by it. I loved Elder Holland's comments on not going back to our nets. The apostles had experienced 3 years in the service of the Lord, and thought to go back to their former lives. Christ called them back and helped them realize that His work was not finished and never would be until the very end of everything. It will be so with my mission. I've wondered a time or two what it will be like when I get back. One thing I know is that I will be forever changed by my mission. I won't go back to what I used to be, though I will go back to where I used to be. I will work harder than ever before and I will strive harder than I ever have in my callings in my schooling that I might continue to be an instrument in His hands and be the teacher He wants me to be. I will go where He wants me to go, say what He wants me to say, be what He wants me to be. I will never look back or relax or be satisfied with the norm. I am His and ever will be.

I love you all so much.

love,

Hna. Cottam