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