As we teach, we learn

I realized today that this is my last Christmas on my mission...which is a weird thought. Speaking of which, this last Friday, I hit one year of serving as a missionary. It's a strange thing to consider, but I'm loving being here and serving. I want it to last as long as possible - I have a year left, and I plan to magnify my calling as long as I'm privileged to wear this name tag.

Tomorrow, we'll be going to the temple, and then gathering as a mission (well, half of the mission) for our Christmas party. Each zone made a video, and we'll be watching those, performing musical numbers (I'm playing piano for a couple of Elders from our zone who are singing), and enjoying each others' company. It should be an awesome day!

This last Tuesday, we went on exchanges with our zone leaders, Elder Winegar and Elder McQueen. Elder Winegar came here to Lowell to serve with me for the day and Elder Butters went up to their area in Nashua, NH. Elder Winegar and I planned out and organized the "rescue effort" for the YSAs of the stake. We cover the YSA ward in the stake, the Heritage Park ward, as well as the Lowell ward, and so we'll be heading out this effort. I'm really excited - ever since I got here, I've felt the prompting to do something to help this ward, but I haven't known what to do. Now, we have a plan of action, and I feel like we'll finally be able to accomplish something!

If you haven't had a chance to check out the new youth material on lds.org, do so! It's fantastic. The new theme song and video are great, and even more so, the new curriculum is going to do amazing things to help the youth of the Church prepare to serve missions. What an exciting time to be living in! I'm so glad to be serving a mission right now.

I had an interesting experience with my prayers this week. I've felt like I've needed to improve them for a while, and I haven't really known what to do. One night during this last week, I had what I felt like was a "real" prayer - it was from the deepest part of my soul, and I didn't have to struggle with what to say. I didn't have "vain repetitions" and I felt like I was able to truly commune with my Heavenly Father. It was such a wonderful feeling, and I want to have prayers like that every day. This morning, I studied Preach My Gospel and the scriptures, and found ways to keep my prayers on that higher plane of communication with God. It's been an enlightening experience for me, for sure.

I also learned a lot about charity recently - the best way to learn is to teach, and that's what we did. The Sunday School teacher for the Heritage Park ward was unable to make it to church yesterday, and we found out early Sunday morning. She asked us to teach her lesson that day from the Gospel Principles manual on charity. We were happy to take over the class and fill in, but it became a more special experience for me than I had anticipated. We've been struggling in the work, and I've been down about it the past couple of days. However, we went in to teach Sunday School, and a quote from Pres. Monson really stuck out to me: “Let us ask ourselves the questions: ‘Have I done any good in the world today? Have I helped anyone in need?’ What a formula for happiness! What a prescription for contentment, for inner peace." That's my problem - I've been too focused on myself and my needs and desires, when I should be focusing on serving others and having that true, Christlike love. I was also reminded of Pres. Hinckley's father, who told him to "forget [himself] and go to work." So, that's my plan. To my surprise, that small attitude adjustment cheered me up before I expected it. I know that helping others and developing charity is the way to true happiness in this life and in this great work. May we each have an "attitude of gratitude" an a focus on the needs of others this holiday season.

Merry Christmas!

Love,
Elder Justin DeLong