Happy 4th of July!!

I'm not 100% sure what our plans are for the 4th, but I know we get to stay out later than normal and see fireworks! We'll have to ask the members where the best place to go is. =D

Last P-day we went to the New England Aquarium, which was pretty cool. We also went to Quincy Market again, and I had my first ever authentic New England clam chowder...it was pretty dang good!

One of our investigators moved to North Carolina, so we had to gingerly hand him off to the missionaries there. Hopefully they'll pick him up and continue teaching him. He's so ready for the gospel; I just hope that he doesn't get "lost" in the midst of everything those missionaries are doing.

We are now teaching Esther's husband, Arnold! It's so great to be able to teach families and see how they draw closer together and closer to the Lord through the gospel. =]

Elder Langford and I are having a GREAT time out here. This is the first companion I've had that I've really felt close to. He's not just a companion, he's a friend, and I'm thankful for that. It certainly helps us do the work, both in the fun times and in the serious times.

We randomly got invited to a Cambodian BBQ on Saturday - an active Cambodian member from the city of Lowell called us and invited us to come - she and several others were going to be driving down to Lynn for it. We got there, and I couldn't believe it. There were SO many Cambodians!!! It was so great to be immersed in the culture for a while. I had duck meat for the first time, it was really good. Elder Langford ate a duck head, actually - brains, eyes, and all. Just grill it up, and it's ready to be eaten, apparently. We should have gotten a picture of it. =P
No new Cambodian investigators from that, unfortunately, but we tried. It was an awesome experience anyway!

Church yesterday was great - Frank got up and bore an incredible testimony. Then Damari got up and bore hers in Swahili (I love hearing her pray or speak!) and Frank translated for her. She knows English, but is much more comfortable speaking in Swahili. There was a new deacon in our ward who will be visiting here for the summer, and Hans took him under his wing and showed him around. I was so proud of him! And THEN, Frank received the Aaronic Priesthood during Elders' Quorum. It's especially exciting because his son, David, turns 8 this month, and this means that Frank is going to be able to be the one to baptize him! =D

As a mission in our companionships, we're reading the Book of Mormon on a schedule. Yesterday, we finished Moroni 10. Elder Langford and I decided to take Moroni's challenge, even though we both already knew it was true. As promised, God gave us an additional witness of the truth of the Book of Mormon and of this great work that we are in. I felt this sense of peace, assurance, and confidence come over me, and then I felt a literal swelling within me. It was an amazing shared spiritual experience that we were privileged to have together. My sense of purpose as a missionary has been renewed and strengthened, and I feel honored to be a part of this glorious work!
We now have a new mission president. Pres. and Sis. Evans left the mission this weekend, and Pres. and Sis. Packard took over starting yesterday. While we miss Pres. and Sis. Evans very much already, we welcome Pres. and Sis. Packard with open hearts and open arms. I'm excited to get to know them - we'll be meeting them this Thursday!

Much love and Godspeed!

"No unhallowed hand shall stop the work from progressing..."
=]

Love,
Elder DeLong