On the up and up!

Sergio's baptism in Lynn, MA

Happy birthday to a couple of my good friends from back home, Alison and Will - I would have sent you guys something but I don't have either of your current addresses. =/

Good news for Dale, the inactive man we've brought back into activity - he's coming to church every single week, he quit smoking after 40 years (with the help of the Stop Smoking Workshop we taught), AND he has a home teaching assignment now. We're really excited for him!

My companionship with Elder Langford is better than ever. We're really getting along well, and I'm so glad to have a friend in him. He's driving the car now, which We've had a lot of progress in the work recently, too. Ginnette and her son Roberto are doing SO well and have a lot of faith, which is inspiring to see. We also had dinner with a part-member family last night - both the mother (LDS) and the father (Evangelical) are firmly rooted in their faiths, and they're raising their kids in both faiths. None of the 5 kids are baptized. The father is very supportive of the Church and of us missionaries. It was really interesting to see how they've worked together in their marriage and as they raise their kids with both of them very active and very strong in their respective religions. There was an atmosphere of total respect and trust in that home, unlike any other part-member family I've ever seen. I wonder what's going to happen there.

Yesterday, we were able to attend the baptism of a 9-year-old boy named Sergio who we started teaching a couple months ago - we had to hand him off to the Spanish Elders though. His mother speaks mostly Spanish, and his dad (who's actually an inactive member) was hardly ever around when we were there. We knew that in order for Sergio to progress, he would need to have his family on board as well, and in order to get the family on board, we'd need to be able to communicate in Spanish. Plus, he lives in Lynn, and the Lynn Spanish Branch is closer to their home than the Revere Ward is. It was an all-around better fit...then lo and behold, they taught him and he was baptized yesterday! It was so great to be there, and to know that we helped to plant that seed in him. His parents were really happy to have us there as well. =]

I got to have an interview with Pres. Packard this week as well. I feel so good about everything right now! I've been having a hard time with some things recently, but his advice, encouragement, support, and prayers have really lifted me up. It was definitely a mission-defining experience for me. Pres. Packard is an incredible man, and I'm so grateful to have him as my mission president! I feel closer to our Savior than ever before, and I feel His hand working within me to change my life. I love being here, and I love what I'm doing! It's truly amazing to be a part of this great work.

Love,
Elder DeLong