Week 4

My goodness, I've been out in the field for almost a month. I can't even believe that. Time has just flown by...and yet, at the same time, it feels like I've been here forever. I'm still adjusting to missionary life, especially to having a companion. It's rough sometimes, and I'm not always sure how to handle it. I just continue to work on having patience and charity. On the bright side of things, I'm learning and growing so much. I've been having a really great time getting to know the members in the Revere 2nd ward, they're great. The same can't be said for all people here, though - some people are incredibly rude, and honestly, the worst drivers in the world are here in the Boston area. I can't stand it. People can be such idiots! I thought Arizona drivers were bad, but I was way off!

So remember the only active Cambodian family in our ward, and how we eat dinner there every Friday evening? We're now helping the father/grandfather learn English, and they're helping me with my Cambodian. As I continue to try my hardest to learn, I'm finding that I actually CAN do this. I can't do it on my own, I need the Lord's help - but with Him, I can. In regards to this family, we learned this week what happened in the early 90s...there used to be a Cambodian branch here, with many active members. Sadly, the branch president's daughter was murdered, and the entire branch fell apart. Everyone went inactive...except for the branch president and his family. They're the ones we meet with every week. They lost a couple other children in Cambodia and Thailand when they were escaping from the Khmer Rouge, also. These tragedies have helped me to understand where this family has come from and why the Cambodian members here aren't active. I hope to be able to help them somehow during my time here.

On Wednesday, almost all day, we had a leadership training meeting. I had to go, since my companion is the district leader. It was good, and I learned a lot. I'll admit, I wasn't excited to sit there for 6 hours, but my attitude soon changed as I felt the Spirit and learned from Pres. Evans. They also fed us a delicious lunch, so that helped a bit. ;]

Our investigators are doing well! Florance is so eager to be baptized, as is Damari. Damari pretty much already knows and believes everything we teach her! We have a couple more lessons with her to finish up teaching the commandments and she's set for baptism. Ed is awesome, I'm so excited for him. He's so genuine, and he really seems to be taking to what we teach him. He really wants to quit smoking, and I know that with the Lord's help, he can! David and Diego got baptized yesterday; it was way awesome. We had around 60 or 70 people show up for it!!! It was the most well-attended baptism I've EVER seen. We actually had to move into the back of the cultural hall and roll in a piano, since the Relief Society room wasn't big enough! Cotter was confirmed a member of the Church and received the Gift of the Holy Ghost yesterday. I'm so excited for him - he expressed to us that he wants to serve a mission. I was shocked and thrilled to hear that from him. On the down side of things, our French investigators have put things on hold...we're not sure why, but we think they may have been influenced to stop taking the lessons from Benedetta's son. They spent some time with him one weekend and had to cancel our appointment because of it, and after that, they haven't been able to meet with us. We're concerned, but hopefully they come back. A couple of our other investigators aren't doing so hot either, but that's okay. We're here to teach those that the Lord has prepared to receive the gospel, and we're doing just that. If it's not their time, they'll have another chance another time, and we have to stop meeting with them. It's sad, but I know that no effort is wasted when it comes to missionary work. Maybe someone else will harvest the seeds we've planted.

This work is hard, but unbelievably fulfilling. I know this gospel is true, and I am so grateful for this chance to serve my Lord and Savior. Despite the struggles, I love being here, and I'm determined to be the best missionary that I can be.

Much love and best wishes,
Elder DeLong


P.S. If any of you would like to be taken off of this list, just let me know. No offense taken, I promise!