July 24, 2014
Hello hello!

It's been another great week here at the CCM! And I only have 4 days left! Ah! I can't believe this has already happened.

Last Friday, we went tracting with the sister missionaries for 5 hours. It was so real. For some reason, I thought being at the CCM in Dominican Republic was like having "the experience," but I was so wrong. Being with the people is so different. It was so great. I can't wait to start serving. It was pretty difficult, because I understood about 5% of what people were saying to me, and about 45% of what my companion was saying. (Mom-she's from Honduras, San Pedro). So I never knew what they were talking about. haha But it was really fun. I've realized that my ability to speak the language is going to come much faster than my ability to understand. That's what the elders told us. All of the natives were impressed with how much I could speak, but I couldn't understand them. haha But I'm really looking forward to learning the language, and I can't wait to be with the people. I'm so ready! We're going tracting again tomorrow.

I love the devotionals we watch here. We watch them every Sunday, Tuesday, and now every Thursday because the temple is closed. In one devotional that Elder Bednar gave, he said that when he meets converts, he always asks them what they thought of the missionaries. He said that almost always, they say "I had no idea what they were talking about. They didn't make any sense, but I could feel the Spirit so strong when they were there." Something I've learned here is that it doesn't matter how much I know, and it doesn't matter how well I speak Spanish. The MOST important thing is having the attributes of Christ. If you exemplify the attributes of Christ, the Spirit will speak through you, and He will testify that what you are saying is true. We're just a bunch of 19 year old kids trying

to teach about the gospel all around the world. Sometimes we make mistakes, but it's just a testimony to me that this gospel is true, because the Spirit will testify to them, even when we make mistakes. And I'm bound to make tons of them, so I'm grateful for the Spirit's help. haha

I don't have a ton to say this week, but I'm just so grateful to be here at the CCM. I love being here. I love the teachers, and I love that I can get to know all of the missionaries here. It's be so much fun, and I'm so sad that I'm leaving in a few days, but I'm so excited for this adventure. I've been waiting for this my entire life, and I'm so grateful that it's already here. 

Thank you for your examples to me, and for your love and support. I am so grateful to have you all in my life. Adios!

A Day in the DR:

The "neighborhoods" are so different here. The streets are so tiny and sometimes you have to squeeze through them. All of the houses are connected, and everyone lives so close together. But I love it, because everyone is so laid back and friendly and a part of each other's lives. It's much different than our culture in the U.S. I wish I had a picture to share, but I'll send some once I get out into the field.