Greetings from the CLAM!

We all made it here!  My trainer is Elder C. from Garland, Utah.  I have had several awesome meals here already, so don't worry about me not being fed!  I spent $21.35 on groceries today, which is right on my budget.  Laundry is free because the C. family lets us do it at their home.  The manager of our complex is the Bomba.  He is helping me raise my desk so I can actually fit my knees under it.

We don't tract much here; I guess it is discouraged a bit.  We work mostly on reactivation and strengthening new converts.  We have four investigators now, too. Today being Halloween, we need to be inside by 8:00 p.m.  I guess it can get pretty crazy around here!

I loved attending the Spanish ward yesterday.  We (the missionaries) sang in sacrament and it was great to look out in the congregation and see those I know and have begun to love already.  Five of the people we've been working with came to church -- we were SO happy!  I get to practice my Spanish pretty often and I'm learning a lot.  I actually understood almost ALL the Gospel Principles class today (Principios del Evangelio).

On Saturday night we had a ward Trunk-or-Treat party at the church.  It was really cool.  I loved the egg salad sandwiches -- they were like a piece of home.  Elder C. also won a cake and we finished it off earlier today with some other missionaries.  The other day I bought some of that Manzana soda we had in Mexico and that was like going back in time!  Most families here drink soda and I usually take it, but if they ask me what I want, I request water.  Otherwise I might come home looking like my Aunt Roberta . . .!!

Greenies Galore!

These are the 14 new missionaries who arrived in Los Angeles on Wednesday.  What a big group!  You might get the idea that the work is booming there!  Thanks to President & Sister Baker for posting these on the Cala mission blog.

Airport Phone Call

Elder Bham called this morning at 7:15 from the SLC airport; it was nice to talk to him.  He is traveling with a group of 14 missionaries, 12 elders and 2 sisters, who are all going to L.A.  He sounded excited!  By now he's been in Los Angeles for nearly 12 hours.  Hopefully we'll hear soon about his first assignment and his first companion!

Last Preparation Day

Santa Vaca!  We only have six days left in the MTC!  Today was our last P-day and it was insanely crazy!  Elder R and I went off campus twice (for doctor's appointments) and we felt the awkwardness of the real world -- seeing people without name tags and hearing music in waiting rooms.  It was way weird.

Last night we got to teach the new missionary experience (for the new missionaries) and it was cool.  The first investigator we taught was pretty good and we felt the Spirit a lot.  The second, however, was kind of spastic.  She would ask a question and then ask another before we could finish answering the first -- like "Do you eat pork?" or something like that, just randomly thrown in there.  It was fun to see Julia there.

Elder Scott spoke to us on Tuesday night.  It was awesome!  My favorite part was when he said "The power in this room cannot be DENIED!"  We have been incredibly blessed here at the MTC; I can't believe time has gone so fast!  We leave the MTC at 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday (Oct 26) and our plane takes off just before 9:00 a.m.  In less than six days we will be in Los Angeles!  Woot!  Time to serve and talk to everyone!

Curb Duty

Well, look who Elder Bham and Elder R. welcomed to the MTC today!