Monday, June 25, 2012

"Strawberry Blonde"

An interesting debate has arisen this week, with the subject being the color of my hair. The vast majority of members, fellow missionaries, and investigators is that I have red in my hair. I am of the opinion that my hair is "dirty blonde" but I only have 2 others on my side. And so, as it turns out, I am a "strawberry blonde", as it's called. I'm not sure how to feel about it...it seems like I've been living my life as a lie. Then I remember that none of this is of eternal significance, and I get over it and resume the work of the Lord. =D

Things are going very, VERY well out here. Our number of progressing investigators is very low, but new people are coming up and our recent converts are going strong. We've put in some effort with less-active members this past week or so, and 4 of them came to church yesterday! It was a beautiful sight to see. Elder Langford and I are having an awesome time together - he's a fantastic companion and a great friend. We're working hard and working well together - the work of the Lord moves onward! =]

On Wednesday, we gave some service and helped to build a playground here in Revere! It was a HUGE event, with involvement/support from jetBlue and KaBOOM!, a non-profit organization that builds parks across the country. Us, the other companionship in our apartment, as well as a third companionship of Elders in our zone (whose area neighbors ours) went and helped out. It was so much fun, despite the heat, and the finished product is pretty neat! It was really cool to be involved in such a big thing. The woman in charge of the Revere Public Library (where we do our emails each week) knows us well, and always gives us service opportunities - this was one of them! The "Peace in the Family Day" gig was also a recommendation from her.

Speaking of the heat, humidity is absolutely MISERABLE. I'll be like in the 90s (which is no big deal back in Arizona), but then the humidity is through the roof. It makes it really uncomfortable, especially in "church clothes", but we deal with it and drink lots of water! Also, it'll randomly rain every couple of days for a while, and then go back to hot and sunny. It's rather strange.

The mission got new phones!!!! We had bricks before, and now we have really nice ones - touch screens, QWERTY keyboards...we're spoiled, it feels like. But it also feels pretty legit, so I'm not complaining!!! =D

I've said it many times before and I will continue to say it - I absolutely LOVE this ward. Church was so great yesterday. One of our investigators, Esther, showed up, and when she met Harriet, she flipped out! Turns out that Harriet was a famous actress in Uganda - I knew this, but we just don't really ever talk about it. Esther is also from Uganda, and her daughter, Sabrina, is named after a character that Harriet played on a TV show there. According to Esther, when Harriet left that TV show, everyone stopped watching it. THAT'S how big Harriet was! Crazy, right?!

I'll close this letter with the most exciting portion of our day yesterday, and probably the most exciting portion of our whole week - we are now teaching our FIRST Cambodian investigators EVER!!! Elder Langford and I are beyond thrilled. We taught them the first lesson yesterday. It was so incredible. Our Cambodian was a little rough, and we had to explain a few things (like prophets) a little more in depth than normal, but we're so excited to be teaching them. It's a family - a husband and wife with 5 kids! They are the first Cambodians here that I have met who are willing to learn and open to the gospel. They've been searching for the truth, and they've definitely been prepared by God. I am so honored to be able to teach them - Elder Langford and I hope and pray for the best for them! =D

With an excitement in my heart and a love for the people here,
Elder DeLong! =]

Monday, June 18, 2012

Happy Father's Day

Elder Kamden Marchant, 2 years old

Peace in the Family Day, Winthrop, MA

Elder Winegar just before he went home

Happy 25th Anniversary to my parents, Happy 18th Birthday to my sister Keira, and Happy Father's Day to my dad, grandfathers, and all you fathers out there!

Elder Winegar is off and home in California now. It's hard to believe that he's actually at HOME, not just in another area. Best wishes to him as he starts school and tries to adjust to "normal life" again.

You know what else is hard to believe? I'm almost 20. WHOA. o_0

The other thing that comes with Elder Winegar leaving is that I'm now senior companion and trainer to Elder Langford. He's a champ though, so it's not much work on my part. It's nerve-wracking to be in this position, but he's doing a fantastic job. He's an incredible missionary, and he and I are already working really well together. Things are just SO much easier with just 2 Elders in a companionship. Nothing against Elder Winegar, trios are just tough. That being said, Elder Langford and I are raring to go, and have already had some great moments and successes together. We figured out a couple days ago that we are the youngest (or "greenest") companionship in the mission. I'm stoked to be with him for the next couple months!

I can now say that I have eaten quail eggs. I didn't like it all that much, but that's okay. I've been more open to trying new things. (A couple weeks ago I had lobster for the first time!) The eggs were sort of like hard-boiled and part of a Cambodian dish that had many other things in it, so it wasn't just the eggs - but Sis. Sen always makes excellent food, so I enjoyed it as a whole!

On Saturday, we helped out at a community fair/festival thing that was going on to help support fighting against domestic violence. It was called "Peace in the Family Day" - we helped set up and stuff, and then when there was nothing else to do, they let us set up a table! So we handed out copies of the Family Proclamation and pass-along cards for mormon.org, it was great! I got sunburned, but that's a small price to pay for planting so many gospel seeds! =D

We met and taught a new investigator this week named Jessica. She's had a rough life thus far, and has been through some things that I can personally relate to in a way. I had this overwhelming feeling the whole time that I was here, talking to her, for a reason, and that I was the one who was supposed to help her come unto Christ. I was on the verge of tears the whole lesson, and I know that Elder Langford felt strongly about it, too. We felt such a strong love for her from our Heavenly Father, and we know she's been prepared to receive the gospel. I'm very excited to see how she progresses.

We had dinner with the Marchant family the other night, and their 2-year-old son Kamden is well on his way to becoming an awesome missionary! He put on my nametag, ran out the door, shut it behind him, and then knocked on the door, came in, told us he was "Missionary Kamden" and opened his copy of the Book of Mormon and shared a "scripture" with us. It was absolutely hilarious, and at the same time, extremely heart-warming. Needless to say, we got a picture with him. =]

Yesterday in church, Hans passed the sacrament for the first time, and Cotter blessed the sacrament for the first time! Frank was confirmed a member of the Church, and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. The non-member husband of a woman in the ward finally came to church, as did a less-active member - both of whom we've been working with. AND we found out from Ed and Sis. Brown that they are NOT moving after all! That means that we get to be here together for their wedding and for Ed's baptism!!! Yesterday was such a great day. =D

Things are going really, really well here. I'm loving life as a missionary, and feeling good about things. Much love and Godspeed!

Sincerely,
Elder DeLong

Monday, June 11, 2012

5th time's the charm...

Frank's baptism (son is in front, Elders Winegar and Langford, Damari)


Frank got baptized yesterday! I had the honor of performing the baptism at his request, but it took me a grand total of 5 TIMES to get him all the way under the water! He kept resisting, and bonked his head a couple of times. We practiced a couple days before, but it didn't help. He wouldn't bend his knees - maybe he just got nervous or skittish or something, I don't know. He knocked the plug out of the font though, and we couldn't get it back in all the way...so the water was very slowly draining out, and we eventually had to have him kneel, and then because that didn't work, SIT on the floor of the font, and roll over onto his side, which FINALLY got him under the water! Looking back, I can laugh on the whole experience. It'll help me for the future on my mission and maybe later in life when the person being baptized can't take going backwards - they can go forwards if they need to, or crouch into a ball, or whatever - as long as their entire body gets under water at one point. The Lord provides a way for all those who are willing to enter into a covenant with Him. I once heard of a very ill woman who received her temple endowments being wheeled through the temple on a stretcher. The experience with Frank left me with a very good feeling, and a confirmation from the Spirit that the ordinance was valid and was accepted by our Heavenly Father.

One of the less active members that we've "re-activated" has made the decision that he wants to serve a mission. He's 20 years old, and he said he knows that it's what God wants him to do. He's been studying the scriptures and his patriarchal blessing a lot lately and keeps getting that feeling, and so he's talking to the bishop and working on his papers now. I'm so excited for him! Oh, and we met a lady this week named Esther - she's totally solid! She's had a rough life, but I know that the Lord has been preparing her to receive the gospel. She accepted a baptismal invitation, and prayed right then and there to know if this is all true. She got her witness right after she prayed, and described it saying that it was as if she was "on caffeine" - she felt filled with pure energy. It was an awesome moment! =D

Just a warning to any of you that may ever drive in Boston - make sure you get the right turn. If you miss a turn, you could end up wasting 45 minutes to an hour of travel time, $3.50 to a toll road, and ending up getting lost in the middle of Charlestown as it's raining cats and dogs. Not that I would know from personal experience or anything... -cough cough-

I dread the day that I get transferred from this area. I know I'll be here for at least 11 more weeks, but I know the day will eventually come when I have to leave, and I don't want to! I really feel like a part of this ward now. I mean, before, I just really loved being here, but now, I feel as if I'm a part of this ward family. =]

Happy birthday to my mom this last Wednesday, happy birthday to my sister this Wednesday, and happy Father's Day to my dad this coming Sunday! Happy Father's Day to all of you fathers and grandfathers out there.

Much love,
Elder DeLong

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Our district before transfers. Elder Langford is just behind me. We are still companions after the transfer. Elder Wayne, my first companion in the field and trainer, is in the middle front.

Kicking off the new transfer!

Driving in Boston is terrifying. Well, not really...okay it is, but just at first. I haven't driven in 6 months, and to be thrown into the middle of a place I've never driven in after not having driven in a while was stressful. Let's just say I missed several turns. The important thing is though, that I'm quickly improving and adapting to the driving circumstances here. We had to make a drive WAY out to Natick to the mission office, and then Needham to the mission home to pick up Elder Winegar. Doing all that on my first day of driving here was nerve-wracking, but we survived!

Speaking of Elder Winegar - what an awesome guy. It's great to have him here to offer his knowledge, wisdom, and experience in missionary work, the language, and in relationships with companions and others. I'm very grateful to have him here to help me adjust and become a better trainer. He leaves on the 16th, and after that it's just me and Elder Langford! I'm stoked to be here in the Revere 2nd ward for another couple months!

We have a new investigator named Jinge Wu - she's from Shanghai, and she and her family visited Salt Lake City and went to the temple/visitor's center there. We got her information from Church headquarters and stopped by and taught her about God and who He is and how much He loves us. She then requested to give the closing prayer - it was one of the most sincere prayers I've ever heard! She truly wants to come to know who God is and learn more of Him. After she closed her prayer, she asked us if she could come to church on Sunday. Of course we said yes and got her directions. She's great! She didn't make it to church, but that's okay, because her desire is sincere.

Darline and Hans were confirmed in sacrament meeting yesterday! They then took the sacrament and renewed their baptismal covenants for the first time. I'm so excited and happy for them - they're rock-solid new members. I was able to participate in both confirmation circles, as well as be the voice for Darline's confirmation. That was my first one ever, I was so nervous! Despite the nerves, I was grateful and beyond happy for the opportunity to do so. It's incredible to see people change their lives and truly progress in the gospel. Speaking of which, Frank had his baptismal interview yesterday, and he passed! He'll be getting baptized this upcoming Sunday. Hans should be getting the Aaronic Priesthood this Sunday as well. =D

Things are looking up for me, and we have a ton of potential investigators coming out of the woodwork. I'm excited to see what this transfer holds, and even more excited to be here in this area for it. Being a missionary is awesome! =]

Love,
Elder DeLong