Happy Thanksgiving!

My apartment is on the middle floor just to the left of the green awning.

 



Did you know I have a twin in the Boston area?

 



I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving, and that things are going well with each of you in the beginning of this holiday season. This is such a great time of year, and I'm excited to be part of the Lord's work as Christmas fast approaches! It's strange to think that I've been a missionary for almost a year - I want to be sure to give my all for this next year as I serve!

We had a nice Thanksgiving dinner with a family in the Lowell ward - they invited 2 or 3 other couples to join us as well. Quote from Elder Butters: "Tight like unto a dish...with turkey and mashed potatoes on it!" I thought that was hilarious (brother of Jared reference). =D

That morning, we volunteered at a local Presbyterian church that was making a meal for the homeless/poor people of Lowell who couldn't afford Thanksgiving this year. It was a great opportunity to help out in the community, even though it was for another faith. I'm sure that our Heavenly Father recognizes and appreciates their service and sacrifices just as much as ours.

We got our car back (and got new hubcaps for it!) this last Tuesday. What a luxury it is to have a car in the mission field. I'll never take that thing for granted ever again.

This week, the office elders came to our apartment, took the extra bed and chairs that we had, and gave us a dresser and some weights! Some other elders in our area gave us their bench-press thing...I'm not sure what to call it. I'm just so glad to have the exercise equipment in our apartment! I've been missing it. Elder Langford really got me into working out, and I'm glad that I now have the materials again to do so. Hopefully I'll get in better shape and loose some of this extra weight I've gained since being on my mission.

Danny (our ward mission leader for the Heritage Park ward) took us out to lunch at Outback Steakhouse on Saturday, and then spent the afternoon with us trying to visit some of the members of the singles' ward. No success, but we're grateful for his time, effort, support, and money (for lunch)! He's a great guy and a fantastic ward mission leader. As I mentioned last week, we're focusing more on the Heritage Park ward now, and I'm excited for the potential there. I gave a talk in sacrament meeting yesterday, which went well, and I think it helped. We're going to be talking to more of the members and going to the activities, including the upcoming ward variety show, designed to be more fun-based than talent-based...needless to say, I'll be performing something to make people laugh! No worries Mom, I'll be sure that Elder Butters records it. =]

Not a whole lot to say this week. It's tough to battle discouragement when you're struggling in the work, but I love being a missionary no matter what's happening. We're working hard, getting along well, and having a blast. This past week has been tough, trying to find new people to teach, but the Lord is blessing us and opening doors for us in unexpected places. I'm thrilled to be here and I'm looking forward to the many miracles I have yet to see.

With love,
Elder Justin DeLong

The Legend of the First English-Speaking Elder to Serve in the Lowell Ward

Elder Butters, my new companion

The "greenie" cake

Okay, the title is a little more "epic sounding" than this email actually is, BUT things are going really well with my "greenie" here in Lowell. His name is Elder Dallin Butters, from Bountiful, UT - he's 6'5" (a whole half a foot taller than me!) and he's a really great guy. Easy-going, chill, hard working, and happy. We're getting along really well, and I'm excited to have him as my "son!" Aside from my deeply personal prayers, I don't think I've ever prayed so earnestly in my life as I have preparing for my new missionary to get here. I want to give my all and be the best companion and trainer I can be for him, while learning all that he has to offer and teach me as well. I so badly want him to be successful, almost as if he really is my own son. Training is a really special experience, and I'm grateful for the call to do so.

I baked a cake for Elder Butters the night before he got here, and dyed the batter green! I frosted it with choclate frosting, and surprised him after we had lunch on his first day. When he cut into it and got his piece out (the first piece, of course), he freaked out that it was green. Get it? He's a "greenie"...haha! I thought I was being terribly clever. It's crazy how I've only been with him for a few days and I already love the guy as a brother. I guess that sort of thing happens when you're serving the Lord and laboring with someone to serve other people. Powerful friendships are forged in the mission field, and I've made many friends with other missionaries here so far.

It's been a bit of an odd start to Elder Butters' mission, since we had to take the car down to the auto body shop that the mission uses in Natick (about an hour's drive or so from here). There's a dent from an unknown source in the front right side of the car (remember the story from about 3 weeks ago?), which is now getting fixed. It didn't impair the functioning of the car, but I guess the Church likes to keep its vehicles in good condition since they're constantly selling the "old" ones (I think the oldest car in the mission is either a 2009 or a 2010 model) and purchasing new ones. Despite not having a car, we've been working hard and having a good time. I took Elder Butters out tracting on Saturday afternoon - he did a pretty great job! We got a couple of potential investigators, including someone who let us in to start teaching him right then and there, so that was cool.

The work is always progressing, even if it's at a slower rate than other areas. One of our investigators' father passed away about a month ago, and she had the funeral and post-service luncheon this weekend. She had the funeral at her current church, and the luncheon at our church building, so we helped set up and clean up for that. Another one of our investigators committed to baptism - Elder Butters extended the invitation, of course, and did a much better job in the lesson than he gives himself credit for. In reality, we as the missionaries are merely the conduits for the teaching of the doctrine, but the real learning and testifying comes through the Spirit. It's such a privilege to be serving the Lord as instruments in His hands to bring to pass His will for this area.

All of that being said, I'm now the only Cambodian Elder here - translation of sacrament meeting each week falls to me, and only me. It's been a great opportunity for my language skills to grow, though, and it's actually getting to be kind of fun!

I had this feeling yesterday that we should be focusing more on the Heritage Park Ward (the singles' ward that we cover in addition to the Lowell Ward). I'm not sure how exactly we'd go about finding investigators specifically for the HP ward, but we're going to give it our best shot. The only thing that immediately occurs to my mind is to go and visit each member of the ward, but they live all over the stake, some as far as 2 hours from here, and we simply don't have the miles to accomplish that. Despite potential difficulties in this work, we're going to press forward, because I feel the Spirit urging us to do so. We have a fantastic ward mission leader who was just called a couple weeks ago, and he's been doing a fantastic job in his calling already. We're working closely with him to come up with ways to help build and strengthen the ward.

Soon, I'll be hitting the mark of one full year of missionary service. It's hard to believe that I've been a missionary for that long already; it seems like it's gone by so quickly. Knowing that, I'm sure my second year will pass all too quickly as well, which breaks my heart to think about. It also makes me want to get off of this computer and get out there and work even harder. I pray that the Lord will bless us as we seek those whom He has prepared to receive His gospel, and that we may be able to fulfill our purpose here in this area.

With much love,
Elder Justin DeLong

Elder DeLong is excited to announce the birth of his second-born son!

Quick background/explanation of missionary slang:

When a missionary first arrives in the field, their first companion is their trainer. This is a calling from the Lord to teach and train this new missionary. That trainer is the new missionary's "father" or "mother" and in turn, the new missionary is the "son" or "daughter" of the trainer. This also applies for the trainer of your trainer being your "grandparent" or the new missionary that someone you trained is now training as a "grandchild." Follow me here? Okay.

All of that being said, I got a call from Pres. Packard Sunday morning. He said, "Elder DeLong, the Lord wants you to train." I'm training these next two transfers! I'm beyond excited for this. Of course, this is a sacred and serious responsibility, and I'm a little nervous, but I'm more excited than anything else. He (and the other new missionaries) arrived yesterday here in the field, and I get to meet him tomorrow. I can't adequately express my joy and anticipation. I knew I'd be getting a new companion, since Elder Ang leaves tomorrow, but I wasn't expecting the call to train. I'm humbled, and thrilled at the same time. Training Elder Langford was such an awesome experience, and I'm looking forward to doing it again! For those of you who are curious, he'll be an English-speaking Elder - no more Cambodians in our mission, remember? And on that note, I'll be translating sacrament meeting all on my own from now on...well, the Lord qualifies those He calls, right?

The first snow of the winter came last week, in the evening on the 7th. It was just a light "flurry" of snow then, but we woke up in the morning with a good half-inch or so on the ground. Not much, but still snow nonetheless! We had to scrape the snow off of our car, and all that. It was pretty cool! Ask me how I feel about the snow in a couple months, and my answer will probably be different. The weather this past monday, the 12th was PERFECT - upper 60s, light breeze...and then it rained yesterday. New England weather is all over the place. Cool thing from yesterday though - there was a full-arch rainbow in the sky during part of the afternoon. That was the first time I've ever seen one!

On Friday, we drove down to Madison, CT for a mission devotional (which I was asked to sing at by Pres. Packard!) and dinner. We took a mission picture, and the devotional itself was powerful. We don't ever get to have the entire mission in one place, even for transfer meetings, and so this was a special experience. It was such an awesome feeling of unity to have all of us together. We found out that over the next few months, our mission will be growing by 44 sisters and 20 elders! That's HUGE! Not only that, but our first 19-year-old sister and our first 18-year-old elder are on their way in the next couple of transfers. It's an exciting time to be part of the work of the Lord! After the devotional, the sisters all left to surrounding members' homes for the night, and all the elders slept in the Madison chapel. We had an awesome scripture study session with Pres. Packard - it was such a powerful feeling to know that each of us there held the Melchizedek Priesthood of God, and that we were all there for the same purpose and cause in a brotherhood as missionaries. Aside from all of that, it was really great to see all of the friends I've made in this mission, all together in one place. As for the real purpose of us ALL being in Connecticut, the next day, we all took part in service and clean-up efforts to help out with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy! We worked in the New Haven area, and my group was in Milton, next to the beach. We helped with moving things, taking out damaged insulation, and even a little demolition! It was a long, but fun day, and a really great opportunity to help those in need. It was an unforgettable weekend.

I've been thinking a lot about who I used to be before my mission, who I was at the beginning of my mission, who I am now, and who I am becoming. It's amazing to see the changes that have taken place and are currently taking place within me. Looking back on myself, I was so prideful, selfish, impatient, etc. Of course, I'm still battling these things, but I've come so far in the strength of my Savior. I'm eternally grateful for His guidance and His empowering grace that is helping me to transform into the man that He wants me to be. I'm happier than ever before. I love this work, and I love being part of it! I can't wait for this next transfer. Who knows how the Lord will bless us? =]

Love,

Elder Justin DeLong

Winter has set in!

Fall in New England

It hasn't snowed yet, but it's definitely getting colder. Saturday night we were filling up the gas in the car, and it was the first time I felt that "bone-chilling" cold. Sunday was chilly too, and this morning has been the coldest, I think. The line at the Starbucks next to the library here is pretty long...almost out the door!

Well, things here in Lowell are fine and dandy, I guess. Working hard, trying to get things up and moving in this area. Not too much of interest to report. We had our quarterly interviews with Pres. Packard this last Friday, which went really well. I love that man and I'm so grateful to have him as my mission president. He's already been a guiding force for me in my life and has helped me through some tough spots.

I went to the dentist this morning! It's been almost a year, and I decided I wanted a cleaning since it's been so long. Since missionary insurance doesn't cover any of that, I had to get everything figured out myself - it wasn't that difficult, and my family's insurance was able to cover all of it. The hygienist said my teeth are "gorgeous" and the dentist said my bite is "perfect." They even both suggested that I get my teeth looked at again by an orthodontist, because I may not need retainers anymore. I don't know, we'll see. Maybe I'll get them checked out when I go home. The hygienist was very impressed with how clean my teeth are, and I'm continuing my now 20-year streak of no cavities. =D

We updated and cleaned out ALL of the records in our apartment on Saturday. It took a while, but I'm glad we did it. Everything is more organized, and the effort was definitely worth it.

I've begun to notice that my journal entries are getting longer, more detailed, and more spiritual. I've been told by several people back home that my letters are different, that my writing style is shifting, and they can note my spiritual growth. I went through a month or two ago and read my journals since the start of my mission, and I've noticed some changes. I'm extremely grateful for my Savior and His grace that enables me to change to become the man He wants me to be.

Yesterday was a pretty special day for me, I'd say. It was the first time where I had actually been looking forward to fasting, for starters. I always do it in faith and with a willing heart, but this time something was different. I'm reminded of D&C 59:14, where fasting and rejoicing are placed together as synonyms. While we were in ward council early in the morning, I realized that a true love for these people and a concern for their welfare has been developing in my heart. I though I would never love an area as much as I loved Revere, but Lowell is really beginning to grow on me. Once I decided to let these people in, so to speak, a real desire to serve them came naturally. I'm determined to do all I can for both the Lowell ward and the Heritage Park ward in my time here. In the Lowell ward, translating during sacrament meeting came more easily for me than it has been. There's a Cambodian Sunday school class that we attend, and at the end we had a mini testimony meeting - I got up and bore my testimony, and I was surprised at how fluently I spoke. It was almost effortless, minus 2 or 3 times when I had to pause to think of the right word. I'm so thankful for the gift of tongues and the help that my Heavenly Father has given me as I have learned this incredible language. In companionship study yesterday, we were reading 3 Nephi 11, and I had a really powerful spiritual experience. As Elder Ang read the verse that depicts Christ descending from heaven, I was slammed with a witness from the Spirit that testified to me of the truthfulness of those words. The Savior truly did minister among the Nephites. And of course, as such things are with me, I couldn't help but cry. It was so unexpected and powerful. I'm eternally grateful for the Book of Mormon and more so for my Savior, Jesus Christ. I'll never forget the feelings I had yesterday.

Thank you all, so much, for the continued love and support. This is the best thing I've ever done, and it continues to be an experience that I will treasure forever.

Love,
Elder Justin DeLong