I survived Hurricane Sandy!!

I've been in Lowell for over half a transfer already! It's hard to believe time is going by so quickly. It also makes me a little nervous for next transfer - Elder Ang will be going home, and I'll be left on my own to handle this area. I've GOT to get to know all the members in that time! Thank goodness for the gift of modern technology, because without a GPS I'd never find my way around this place. Thoughts of next transfer are beginning to plague my mind...will the Lord, through Pres. Packard, send another Cambodian-speaking missionary here? They've all served here already, but you never know. Will I get an English-speaking companion and be alone in my Cambodian? Will I get a new missionary and be training? Will I get transferred out and they'll put two missionaries here? It's been done before; you really never know what could happen. I don't need to worry though, because the Lord truly does guide this work and every aspect therein.

My love and best wishes to my friend Shailene, who was married in the Mesa, AZ temple this last Saturday!

We got a ward mission leader in the Heritage Park ward (the singles' ward)! He's a really great guy, and he just got home from his mission (to Tempe, AZ) 2 weeks ago! I'm so excited to work with him and to get this ward up and going. This last Sunday was my first time in sacrament meeting there, and it was so empty in that chapel...I think there was maybe 20 people in attendance. I really want to strengthen this ward in my time here, and I'm praying for the Lord's guidance in how to do that, especially with Elder Ang leaving in 2 and a half weeks.

On Saturday, we (as in, the two of us with the Portuguese Elders who serve in the ward as well) had lunch with one of the newlywed couples in the Lowell ward - turns out that they're both from here, but the wife spent some time in Mesa, going to MCC-Red Mountain! The two of them want to move to Arizona, so it was cool to get to talk about my home for a while with them and Elder Maldonado (one of the Portuguese Elders, who's from Gilbert). Also on Saturday was the Lowell ward Halloween party, which went well. It was a fun time for the young ones, and we had an investigator come with his 3-year-old son! That was pretty exciting.

Earlier this week, we went on exchanges with the Elders serving in Littleton - I went to their area and served with Elder Taylor for the day. The reason I mention this is because, at our member dinner appointment, I come to find out that this family (the Parker family) lived in Mesa for 8 months, and just moved here in March! This family was not only in my home stake of Citrus Heights, but was in a neighboring ward, the Cooley Park ward. I then find out that their kids went to Highland Arts Elementary, where my mom teaches 2nd grade. Her 2nd oldest son (Ethan) knows my brother Colton, and one of her daughters (Emma) knows Treyton and was in his grade. She was in Mrs. Millet's class, and had MY MOM as her teacher for science class (they did a rotation system for some subjects). Talk about a small world!!!

And now, on to the "main event" of this week's email...Hurricane Sandy. Oooooooooohhh...it really wasn't that bad, up where we were. We got some rain, some strong winds, and that's it. No damage or anything. We didn't even lose power. On Saturday, we received notice from the mission of the impending storm. We were instructed to purchase water, non-perishable food, candles, batteries, etc., and to get some cash and fill up the gas tanks in our cars, just in case. Missionaries serving along the coast had to move further inland. I'll be honest, upon hearing word, I was pretty freaked out. I had a really beautiful experience though - I prayed for peace and a level head through this experience. The Spirit brought to mind the words "if ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." I wanted to know where that verse was, and so I found it in Doctrine and Covenants, section 38, verse 30. It starts out with, "I tell you these things because of your prayers" - in that moment, I knew that this verse was an answer to my prayers. It goes on to say, "wherefore, treasure up wisdom in your bosoms," which I took to be emotional wisdom in this case - being able to handle things well and keep a cool head. I knew in that moment that if we prepared, we wouldn't have to be afraid, and the Lord would protect us. We got the needed supplies and "bunkered down" in our apartment with the Lowell Portuguese Elders for the storm. We were confined to our apartment from Sunday evening till Tuesday morning, but we had a good time together, and the weather really wasn't that bad. Now, it's beautiful and sunny, with white, puffy clouds in the sky. All is well.

I'm healthy, happy, and loving life as a full-time servant of the Lord. Godspeed, everyone!

Love,
Elder Justin DeLong